Leadership Lessons from Albert Einstein

I have long admired Albert Einstein and find that his principles apply to business and leadership. We know that Einstein was the most influential and celebrated physicist of the 20th century, and he is credited with developing the general theory of relativity. However, these priceless contributions aren’t his only legacy. Einstein was also a refugee and a humanitarian whose insights can also inform how we conduct business. His brilliant mind offers lessons for our careers, teams, and management choices.??

CAREER LESSONS?

"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."?

This quote inspires us because we, as business people and leaders, have control over how curious we are. Each day, in any setting, we can choose to follow our curiosity. Each day we can be passionate about our work. Einstein’s guidance encourages me to bring a child-like sense of play and innocence to my business and personal challenges.??

"It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer."?

This one I can really relate to! This is especially true when my team and I deal with long-term technical and strategic challenges. Innovation doesn’t happen in a flash, and perseverance is essential. Stay with your problems longer, and you are bound to make real progress. It’s the key to success.?

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."?

This is one of Einstein’s more famous quotes. It spawned the Explain it to Me Like I’m Five meme, one of the most popular subreddits, and even comedic content from Michael Scott in The Office. Think. Write. Clarify. Simplify. Reduce ideas to their essence. Then repeat. This is invaluable advice that impacts strategy and execution.??

TEAM LESSONS?

"Strive to not be a success, but rather to be of value."?

What a humble and profound idea! Perhaps we don’t need one more rock star engineer or another hotshot MBA.? What would change on your team if each member were to focus on creating value? What if team incentives were based on gaining trust and respect for the value they create? Perhaps we need to cultivate teams that strive to be of value.?

“We are most productive when we focus on a very small number of projects on which we can devote a large amount of attention.”?

There are so many breakthrough tech developments taking place that it is difficult not to want to be involved in all of them. When we focus our efforts, it increases our ability to learn new things and improves productivity. When teams apply this axiom, they create space to process the project or problem at hand deeply.??

?"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”?

This might be my favorite quote from Mr. Einstein. Imagination is how we push boundaries to bring ideas to life. A powerful team fosters an environment that welcomes all ideas. Encouraging team members to contribute new ideas creates the opportunity to think creatively. If your team is stuck, try a few exercises designed to spark the imagination!?

MANAGEMENT LESSONS?

"The leader is one who, out of the clutter, brings simplicity … out of discord, harmony … and out of difficulty, opportunity."??

I practice a hands-off leadership approach, but this doesn’t mean that I leave them to drift. The ability to simplify situations is a critical microskill that provides clear direction. As a leader, it is sometimes necessary to step in to resolve issues. Maintaining a positive and productive work environment is a responsibility I take seriously.??

?“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”?

We are tackling difficult challenges and with that comes many, many failures. A strong leader knows that inspiring a team that is failing is more important than celebrating a team that has broken through. Recognizing the importance of learning as we go is an effective tool for motivating teams in the face of disappointment.??

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."??

The saying goes that necessity is the mother of invention, but I think experimentation is the mother of invention. Encourage your team to try new things, especially when it seems unlikely or out of left field. When teams experiment, they learn how to frame ideas in new ways. When leaders encourage experimentation, it spurs innovation, curiosity, and opportunity.?

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CONCLUSION?

Albert Einstein died in 1955. Since then, space exploration, the Internet, and mobile phones have become part of our daily lives. Global innovation and business accelerate at an ever-increasing pace. Despite how much the world has changed – or maybe because of it – understanding and applying Einstein’s lessons is more important than ever. His wisdom, common sense, and brilliant mind will continue to guide us into the future.??

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#Leadership #Management #Teamwork #TONOMUS #Technology??