There are a lot of leadership lessons that we can learn from Elon Musk. I’m going to give you one of them here in this article and I’ll also explain why I feel comfortable doing so. This is not an article on how to develop leadership in business or anything like that. What I’m going to do in this article is to talk about one leadership lesson that we can learn from him and the implications that it has for us as humans if we do follow through on what he says.
1. Honesty –
The first leadership lesson that we can learn from Musk is, to be honest with ourselves and our values and never let ego get in the way of those things. I don’t think that anyone will disagree with me on this one.
If you value honesty and integrity above all else, then you will always do what’s best for the company itself, which is ultimately what’s best for you and your team. Sometimes it’s hard to keep this in mind, but it’s something that we must do if we want to move forward and achieve greatness in our future.
2. Humility –
Next on the list of leadership lessons from Musk includes the concept of humility. If we value ourselves too much, then it’s very hard to make objective decisions about things. This is especially true if we have a lot invested in a project because if we have a strong ego, then we might make a rash decision based on vanity. If we get too caught up in the idea of having things be right for us, then we may miss the important points that should matter most to us.
3. Look beyond the things –
Don’t get caught up in the need to make yourself look good. When we invest in ourselves, our ego gets involved and it prevents us from seeing things objectively. It also prevents us from listening to others. To truly lead, you have to be honest with yourself and do the right things. Doing the right things means compromising, but if it means protecting the company’s integrity or making sure that something comes off without being too damaging, it’s worth it. Additionally, you must remain positive and not show any signs of weakness.
4. Avoid Ego –
Ego trips are another of the leadership lessons from Musk that we can all take to heart. Thinking that we are better than everyone else and that we can do no wrong is one way of dealing with that ego. However, it’s also a self-defeating way of dealing with problems because it causes us to focus on our weaknesses rather than solving the real problem that we should be focused on. People with egos are also prone to jealousy because they might feel something better than them and try to steal that thing.
5. Visionary Mindset –
Another leadership lesson from Musk relates to vision. When he was in college he thought about starting a business that would provide a free internet connection to college students. He knew that he didn’t have the technology to start such a service yet, but he wanted to get it off the ground so he applied for grants. The one he got had to pay a lot of money upfront, but he figured he could make the payments back after he found a way to provide an internet connection for free. What he didn’t know was that the service he started was shut down by its benefactors because it was too successful.
6. Leadership –
The most important leadership lesson from Musk is to avoid using technology as a way to justify anything. It’s okay to use technology in the context of solving a problem, but don’t make the mistake of using it to justify selfishness, pride, self-interest, or a lack of concern for others. In fact, Musk recommends avoiding leadership training courses altogether. They may provide some value, he points out, but they teach people to be cowards and not take responsibility for their actions. ” Leadership is not leadership, “Musk says.” Leadership is choosing to lead.”
Final Words –
While these leadership lessons from Elon Musk are good for most people, they are particularly relevant for those who are already leaders. The ability to lead, and how to overcome ego and self Interest, is something that all people need. The cost of training, however, is prohibitive for many of us.
Unfortunately, most people won’t get the chance to learn what they need to know if they continue working in their jobs, which are probably the biggest impediments to meaningful leadership development. Musk recommends that we leave leadership training in the hands of those who have been given the fortitude to roll up their sleeves and learn.
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