Lessons from Dr. King

Today we honor one of the greatest Americans that has walked the face of the Earth. 

His impact on his time – and his message, 57 years after his passing – resonates as powerfully as it did during his life. 

Here are three leadership lessons from Dr. King I am honored to share today. 

LESSON ONE: FAITH IS THE FERTILIZER

The more time I spend on this Earth, the more I realize the importance of vision.

There are two types of vision. The first is the ability to see in the present. Present vision has significant challenges today. With the endless proliferation of technology, it is easy to bury one’s head in a screen and escape the present. It requires focus and discipline on a moment-to-moment basis in order to live in the now with presence as opposed to drifting through minutes, hours, or days of this life.

Then there is a second kind of vision. That vision is the ability to envision something that hasn’t happened yet. 

Some would call this imagination. Others may call it creation. Still others may term it fantasy or foolhardiness.

The more I have considered it, there are very few things that occur in life before they are envisioned in the mind. Are homes, cities, businesses or technological advancements just created? Or do we architect a plan or prototype first? 

Almost everything we build in the present is envisioned before it is implemented. But the challenge is to first have the ability to see - and subsequently create - something that does not exist in our current reality.

One of the most incredible attributes of Dr. King was his ability to inspire. Through his words and his leadership, he helped others see possibilities where reality dictated otherwise. In the heart of the segregated South where prejudice, discrimination, and hatred prevailed, his words and actions generated hope and action for thousands, and eventually, millions of African-Americans. 

In 1955, before the organization of the groundbreaking Montgomery Bus Boycott, there was little logical reason based on the current reality to believe that sweeping legal and cultural changes were possible over the next decade. Dr. King’s passion provided faith in the future. His famous quote says it all: 

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” 

Dr. King’s ability to cultivate faith in others catalyzed the Civil Rights Movement, helping to mobilize tens of thousands of community members to participate in the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott. 

LESSON TWO: PERSEVERANCE IS THE KEY TO PROGRESS

When you see documentaries or read about the Montgomery Bus Boycott, it is easy in hindsight to adopt a romanticized view of this event as a happy time. The reality was quite different. 

Many of us who work in offices carry the yoke of a daily commute. Personally, I know when my commute is disrupted by ten minutes of traffic, subway or train delays, or some other unforeseen circumstance, it causes agita for me.

Take a moment to consider this level of disruption to your daily commute. 

Instead of going to work with your usual routine, you have to plan an alternate route the night before. 

The morning of, you need to wake up thirty to sixty minutes early to collaborate with a carpool or walk to work instead of taking a bus. 

Here’s the best part: this daily disruption is open-ended. It could be another week, it could be a month - but you really don’t know when - or if - it will ever end.

That was the reality of the African-American citizens of Montgomery. 

The original boycott was supposed to be for one day - but it was extended indefinitely. Ultimately, it lasted over a year. Dr. King’s leadership helped the community stay the course during this time of hardship. Great leaders find a way to not only personally persevere - as King had to do with the constant threats on his life - but to help others endure as well. 

The historic victory of the 381 day Montgomery Bus Boycott requiring integration of the buses on December 20, 1956 was a foundational moment in the Civil Rights movement. It provided a crucial foundation for greater action to follow. 

Despite this landmark victory, subsequent change did not immediately sweep through the nation. Just because Montgomery’s buses were integrated, it didn’t mean other cities would follow suit. Each city had its own battle to integrate the buses. 

The other challenge was that Montgomery was just about bus integration. While it opened the door to desegregation in other areas such as schools, restaurants, water fountains and restrooms, and interstate busing desegregation, the Montgomery ruling neither guaranteed other changes nor did it mean legislation would move quickly. While there were pivotal moments of progress over the course of the next few years, including the 1957 integration of Little Rock schools, the 1960 Greensboro Sit-ins, and the 1961 Freedom Rides, overturning segregation was painstakingly slow. It was a day-by-day, piece by piece, city by city struggle. 

A lesser leader would have succumbed to defeat. I can’t imagine the energy and dedication required to endure with change moving at a snail’s pace. Dr. King’s quote on perseverance rings powerfully true:

“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, keep moving.”

LESSON THREE: GREAT LEADERS STAND FOR IDEALS

In his 1963 letter from Birmingham jail, Dr. King expressed frustration at the current state. It was seven years since the victory at Montgomery, and there was still incredible apathy in the United States regarding equality. Many white leaders counseled him to wait, to compromise, and be patient. 

It is easy to be a person of principle when all is well. Like a steady ship on a calm sea, it is easy to “keep calm and carry on” with your ideals when life is great. 

When adversity shows up, we are tested. How patient, positive, and principled can one be under prolonged duress? 

That was Dr. King’s burden to carry. Seven plus years of adversity staring him in the face in pursuit of a goal that may never be realized. 

One temptation which must have been massive for Dr. King was the temptation to settle. His house had been bombed. He had been arrested dozens of times. He and his family had been threatened countless times. I can imagine there were times he was tempted by his own thoughts, or by countless well-meaning peers counseling him to change course. It would have been understandable to conclude that the current state was the best the movement was going to achieve. It must have been tempting to consider accepting what was being offered as compromise as “good enough” so the struggle could end.

Another incredible temptation that he and millions of others were faced with during this era was to respond with violence. I know the instinct I have when someone takes my bench press at the gym or cuts me off in traffic; my thoughts are far from being as pure as the driven snow.

Given these experiences, it is hard for me to envision exercising the discipline to avoid physically striking back when bearing the brunt of racial slurs, having food thrown at me, or being attacked by another. Non-violence is worthy as a principle, but I doubt I would have the grace, courage, and discipline to hold firm to this principle under these conditions.

Despite the pain and suffering over the glacial pace of change, Dr. King kept firm conviction in his mission of non-violent protest as well as the vision of an equal nation in the NEAR future – not a half-baked compromise that could come decades down the road.  

In delivering his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, the purity of his vision was beautifully captured in this quote: 

“We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.” 

*

Nearly 70 years after Dr. King’s emergence as a leader, I always find it inspiring to learn more about the life and legacy of this incredible leader. With his accomplishments, it is easy in hindsight to look back and assume that he was always a widely respected figure worthy of a national holiday. 

What makes his life that much more extraordinary is the widespread criticism he experienced during his time. At different junctures in his life, his approval rating was lower than a poorly performing president. The reality is that is he - like many impactful leaders, are not truly recognized for their greatness until we have the benefit of the passage of time.   

Dr. King, thank you for reminding us what true leadership means! On this national holiday and day of service, let your legacy serve as a reminder for us to have faith, persevere through adversity, and hold firm to the right ideals as we continue to do the work required to achieve the dream you envisioned.