Untold Lessons of Trust and Leadership: What I Learned from the Life of a Great Conqueror

In this article, we'll discuss the importance of trust in leadership. As John C. Maxwell has pointed out, trust is the foundation of leadership. Trust is necessary for leaders to avoid consequences and failure. Let's delve deeper into this topic and explore the impact of trust in leadership. Allow me to begin with the tale of Alexander the Great and explain why, in my opinion, he could not become a truly exceptional leader and only achieved greatness as a conqueror. Further, we will go deep to understand what we can do to avoid such leadership failure.

Power of Alexander

Let me take you thousand years back to learn a lesson. In the grand annals of history, one name rises above the rest—Alexander the Great. This legendary king, who conquered more than half the world, has captured the imaginations of countless souls throughout the ages. But have you ever stopped to ponder the story behind his most remarkable victory? It's a tale that offers valuable lessons in both power and trust.

Picture this: Alexander ascended to the throne thousands of years ago with a burning desire to conquer the world. And he dominated half of the world, and his war strategies are still used as management lessons. But, before declaring ultimate victory, one formidable opponent stood in his way—Porus, the mighty King of India.

Porus: Epitome of Courage

Armed with an army of loyal soldiers and the immense power at his disposal, Alexander offered Porus a simple choice: surrender and join the ranks of his vanquished foes. But Porus, in an incredible display of courage and determination, refused. He chose to fight, to defend the honour and pride of his beloved homeland. And so, two kings prepared to meet on the battlefield—one driven by certainty, the other driven by purpose.

Historical Statement

As anticipated, Alexander emerged victorious. And in that moment of triumph, he turned to Porus and asked the question that would define their encounter: "How should I treat you?" The response he received was simple and yet profound—treat me as one king treats another. It became a golden line in history that inspires those who strive for significance rather than just success. Alexander showed admiration for Porus's bravery and extended his hand in friendship. After that, he proceeded to conquer the next region on his list of targets.

The Challenge Ahead?

But what happened next is what truly captivates the imagination. With all his wealth, land, and power, Alexander found his soldiers hesitant to move forward. The world's mightiest king faced refusal from his soldiers. Why, you may wonder??

What followers ask

Let's take a digression and understand how you get die-hard followers. I learned from John C. Maxwell that one becomes a leader when they answer three questions of their followers. Leaders will only succeed if they respond. The three questions followers ask are:

1. "Can he help me?"?
2. "Does he care about me?"
3. "Can I trust him?"

Porus stood as a leader for his soldiers in front of Alexander, despite the possibility of losing, because he could answer three critical questions for his soldiers. However, Alexander failed to provide reassurance for some of these questions, which may have caused his soldiers to lose trust in him. Even great leaders cannot repeatedly break trust and expect to lead effectively.

Life-changing Leadership Lesson

You see, even though Alexander had won the battle, he had lost something far more precious—the trust of his soldiers. And it is this same loss of faith that we witness time and time again in our world. We elect prime ministers, we choose presidents, and yet, somehow, the people take to the streets in revolt, demanding change. Why? Because trust has failed.

How it applies in the workplace

This phenomenon extends to the workplace as well. When trust is shattered, we lose our purpose and motivation to keep pushing forward. We become less productive and less willing to give it our all. But when we have the privilege of working with trusted individuals, something magical happens. We lose track of time, become fully immersed in the task at hand, and achieve remarkable results.

So, my dear friends, let us remember the story of Alexander and Porus. Let us recognize and cherish the power of trust in our lives, careers, and businesses, for it is through trust that we conquer our goals and create an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual success. Trust is the greatest conquest of all, especially regarding leadership.

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