Mahatma Gandhi has taught me many lessons about project leadership. Two of the most important lessons are:
1. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Gandhi understood the importance of continual growth in his life. Despite all the things he had accomplished in his early life, Gandhi continually sought out greater understanding of his life, his calling, and his country.
As a project leader, we need to appreciate the need for constant growth. It is through personal growth and improvement that we can take the project team to the next level.
2. “I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.”
Gandhi displayed the greatest strength, not through using his strength to force others to bend to his will, but by using nonviolent means to achieve his goals.
As a project leader, it is sometimes too easy to use our position to persuade team members to bend and do things our way. Your greatest strength as a project leader is to influence and convince the team members to follow their hearts.
Gandhi practiced “follower-centric” project leadership.
“Good project leaders make team members feel that they are at very heart of things, not at the periphery. Every team member feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the project. When this happens team members feel centered and that gives their work meaning.”
Here are 10 more of my favorite quotes from Mahatma Gandhi.
1. A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.
2. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
3. Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
4. Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.
5. An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.
6. Action expresses priorities.
7. Glory lies in the attempt to reach one’s goal and not in reaching it.
8. Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.
9. The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problem.
10. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
What is your favorite Mahatma Gandhi quote? Why? Please post a comment.
Perspectives on Project Management & Training from Learning Tree International 