Attila on leadership
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Attilla's Leadership secrets
In the 1980’s, Wess Roberts published a book called Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun. The book pretends to be a collection of campfire stories told by Attila while training his chieftains to be better leaders. While there is no historical evidence to substantiate this, it does make a good story. This book is legendary amongst students of leadership and management; rumor has it that Ross Perot bought all copies of the first printing in 1985.
- You must want to be in charge. You must be ruthlessly ambitious. Do not appear overeager, just extremely determined to succeed under any circumstances, fair or unfair. This attitude will inspire confidence in those you lead.
- Always appear as the one in charge. Dress in a ways that show your high position and distinguishes you from the masses. Be first in everything, but do not appear pompous.
- Make people do things your way, not their way. Make them adjust or adapt to you. Express this as the way things are going to be, or pretend it is the way things have always been. Refuse to acknowledge any other way of doing things other than the way you do things.
- Never tolerate a lack of morale or respect. Terminate people at the first sign of disrespect for the common good. Do not allow uncontrolled celebration, pillaging and looting are only useful if done in the name of nationalism.
- Never tolerate anyone with his own ambitions. Cunning people are dangerous, especially new people who have just joined the organization. Encourage people to lose their ambition and become team players. Never reward any one person for what is a common effort.
- Perpetuate a legend or reputation for yourself. Find out whatever it is that your worst enemy calls you, and then try to live up to it. This will be an advantage whenever you need to use your power, and it will accumulate minor benefits to you along the way.
- Pick your enemies wisely. Do not consider all opponents or everyone you argue with as enemies. These are accidental enemies. Choose your enemies with purpose. They may be people you have friendly relations with, and in fact, you should let them think of you as a friend, all the while never telling them anything, and lulling them into a state of complacence and acting prematurely.
- Expect continual improvement. Encourage learning and innovation among those you lead by creating competition among them. Never allow them to wander aimlessly. Regularly upgrade your standards of performance.
- Time you decisions. Never rush decisions, unless necessary, but time them so there is little time to do anything else. This ensures that even less-than-perfect decisions will be accepted and followed.
- Exploit the desire to enjoy the spoils of war. Exploit the desire for short-term gains. Grant small rewards for small tasks, but reserve large rewards for large tasks. Never underestimate the ability to buy obedience.
- Only engage in battles you can. Use diplomacy, negotiation, or other techniques of conflict in battles you cannot win.