3 Leadership Lessons from Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan conquered substantial portions of Central Europe and China to create the largest empire in history. His story is one of perseverance, mastery, and purpose.

Temujin was born into a nomadic Mongol tribe in 1162. When Temujin was 12 years old, his father was killed and the family left to die in the harsh Mongolian winter. Temujin and his family survived, but the lessons he learned evolving from manhood at the age of 12 into the warrior known as Genghis Khan, are timeless.

As I read his story, I was struck by how human nature never changes.

The disciplines that helped him to conquer and unify the Mongols are the same ones we need today to prepare for the unknown, embrace the unexpected, and choose the better alternative.

There were times in my training at the FBI Academy when I wondered how the exercises and problem-solving scenarios would help me become a better, or effective, FBI Agent. Seriously, how is running with a medicine ball around a basketball court going to sharpen my investigative skills? Read on for the answer . . .

Perseverance

As a boy, Genghis ran up and down mountains with a mouth full of water. Over time, he got to where he could return to the starting point and spit the entire mouthful on the ground. This was a triumph that signaled he had developed the aerobic strength to run up and down mountains breathing only through his nose.

In the Academy, as I rounded the basketball court with a medicine ball in one hand and a sweaty towel in the other, I failed to see the connection between endurance and perseverance. In hindsight, I understand they are inexorably interlinked.

Build your perseverance, and it will produce 4 qualities:

• Commitment – A sense that you are giving your best
• Challenge – A sense that obstacles are challenges and not threats
• Control – A sense that you are in control of yourself and what happens to you
• Confidence – A sense that you can achieve your goals

Mastery

Genghis Khan used archery to conquer his empire. Drawing a bow and arrow from the back of a galloping horse and accurately hitting the target is not easy. Genghis mastered his art by doing two things:

1)    He developed the power to heave the thick bow back so he could aim his arrow. The Mongolian bow was covered with so many layers of sinew that it had the pull of approximately 160 pounds.

2)    He understood the movements of the horse he was riding. When a horse is galloping, there is a moment when the horse is air-borne and all four hooves are off the ground. In that split-second, as he sat in his saddle and sailed through the air in smooth flight, he could shoot his arrow with enough accuracy to hit the target.

Build your mastery by doing these:

• Cultivate the strengths within you — Especially those you don’t know yet
• Collaborate with your chosen partners — Understand the organization or people with whom you work
• See what no one else sees – Use it for mutual advantage

Purpose

Genghis Khan had one purpose in life, and he never lost that focus. He was not distracted by a desire for possessions or wealth as he became more powerful. His one purpose in life was to see his enemies—those who had killed his father and left him and his family to starve in the winter—brought to justice.

We all have wounds that drive us. No one gets out of the playground without a few scars. Here’s what you can do:

• Convert your wounds into strengths
• Uncover your passion by asking a question like, “What am I good at?”
• Follow that passion to a possible path of purpose
• Take action. The discovery is exciting

“Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it’s made in the small ones.”  -Phillip Brooks

How has perseverance been helpful to you? How has collaboration enabled you to become a master in your field? What impact do you want your life to have?

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LaRae Quy is former FBI Agent and Founder at Your Best Adventure
She helps clients explore the unknown and discover the hidden truth in self & others
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Edited by Mike Weppler

Image Sources: kell-associates.co.uk, runningalaska.com/images, racehorseherbal.com/shoeing/Kinesiolgy