Jun
30
Learning from the life of Benjamin Franklin
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Learning from other great leaders is essential to our personal leadership journey. In the article “Benjamin Franklin’s Extraordinary Leadership” by Jack Uldrich, in Leader to Leader we have an example of a leader who did walk the walk and left a good trail. Some of Benjamin Franklin’s achievements include:
- As a businessman, Franklin built America’s first media conglomerate by setting up printing and newspaper franchises throughout the American Colonies.
- As a citizen, he formed America’s first public library, its first fire department, and its first nonsectarian university, the University of Pennsylvania.
- As a scientist, he discovered electricity–an achievement that made him world famous and helped drive the Industrial Revolution. He also produced the Franklin stove, invented bifocals, conceived of daylight savings time, and was the first person to chart the Gulf Stream.
- As an author, he wrote America’s first best-seller–Poor Richard’s Almanac, and his autobiography has been credited with influencing everything from the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie to Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.
- As a civil servant (postmaster general), he revolutionized the delivery of mail in America by establishing one-day service and home delivery.
- As a politician, Franklin had an active hand in creating the major documents of the Revolution–the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the alliance with France, and the peace treaty with England–and was the only Founding Father to sign all four.
- As a diplomat, he negotiated and secured America’s strategic alliance with France during the Revolutionary War–an act that arguably helped secure the eventual victory.
As can be seen from the above list, these are significant accomplishments for one man to have achieved. Much of his success can be attributed to the principles that he used to guide his leadership. These principles can help us to improve our own leadership capability. In the article Jack Uldrich provides the following principles that formed the foundation for Benjamin Franklin’s leadership….
Benjamin Franklin on the U.S. one hundred dollar bill.
The Importance of Continuous Education
“Ben Franklin had no formal education. Yet by age 11, he had taught himself English, French, and Italian….. Franklin, however, did not simply limit himself to book knowledge. He was the consummate student, always seeking out those who knew more than he did on a wide variety of topics–everything from poetry to natural history. His approach is best reflected in two quotes: ‘Not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own’ and ‘More is to be learned with the ear than the tongue.’… One of his principal methods for learning was to engage others in spirited debate. When he was still just a printer, he wrote, ‘Printers are educated in the belief that when men differ in opinion, both sides ought to equally have the advantage of being heard by the public; and that when Truth and Error have fair play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter.’”
Entrepreneurial Risk Taking
“At the age of 16, Franklin left his hometown of Boston for Philadelphia. Within a year he had established his own print shop, and after three years he had become one of Pennsylvania’s most prominent printers. By the time he was just 26, he had established America’s first franchise system of printing shops–with stores from Hartford to Charleston. He did it by doing his homework, finding good employees, establishing key relationships, working hard, and taking risks….. He also used his free time and other outside activities constructively to generate an almost endless source of entrepreneurial opportunities. He was the consummate networker. Early in life, he formed an organization called the Junto–a group of tradesmen and artisans who were intent on self-improvement. In many ways, Franklin could be called the first Rotarian.”
Focusing on Goals Beyond the Self
“When still a young man, Franklin read Plutarch’s Lives–a book that is based on the premise that ‘individual endeavor can change the course of history for the better.’ Franklin absorbed the message and it permeated every aspect of his life…. The philosophy is best reflected in his decision, at the age of 42, to turn over his very successful printing business in order to concentrate on science. As he wrote his mother of the decision, he said, “I would rather have it said ‘He lived usefully,’ than ‘He died rich’.” And for the second half of his life, he did precisely that, focusing on improving the world at large rather than his own finances….. Even in the field of science, his view was focused on putting his work to ‘useful’ ends…. Franklin was constantly converting his scientific curiosities to practical effect…..Franklin once wrote, ‘To pour forth benefits for the common good is divine.’ He felt it was shortsighted to view business activities as something separate and distinct from the community in which those businesses and their employees work and live.”
Accommodating Divergent Needs–Quietly
“Falter Isaacson, in Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, notes, ‘Compromisers may not make great heroes, but they do make democracies.’ His point was that the strength of a country–or, I would argue, an organization–is not just derived from singleness of purpose. It is derived from the recognition that the sum is greater than the parts and that compromise is often a necessary ingredient in achieving success….. The subtle, behind-the-scenes style of the compromise reflects another hallmark of his leadership: his humility. From his anonymous authorship of Poor Richard’s Almanac and his quiet work in negotiating an alliance with France to his little efforts in crafting the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution (Franklin was responsible for suggesting the phrase “We hold these truths to be self-evident” to Thomas Jefferson), Ben Franklin was always willing to give others credit in order to achieve success.”
Building Strategic Partnerships
“Franklin was also a master at determining what was essential for success in negotiations and what was merely advisable. He never confused the two. As a result, he always achieved the former while often being able to secure a fair number of the latter. For instance, after the Revolutionary War, Franklin insisted Great Britain accept America’s independence as a precondition for talks. In this manner, he secured the most important goal before negotiations even officially began.”
Embracing Change
“…By keeping an open mind, Franklin left himself open to see the changing political climate–and to seize new opportunities–well before most of his countrymen. And even though he had many friends in high places in the British Empire, including his own son, Franklin refused to be beholden to the status quo….. Franklin once said: ‘Declarations of a fixed opinion, and of determined resolution never to change, neither enlighten nor convince us.’ He held himself to that standard as well as his countrymen. It is a principle that has–and continues to–serve this country well.”
Think for the Long Term
“It has been said that the greatest disease of modern life is short-term thinking. From business leaders incapable of looking beyond their next quarterly statement to political leaders seemingly unaware of a host of growing societal problems, today’s leaders need to do a better job of designing and shaping their actions for sustainable long-term growth.”
Shaping the American Character
“Ben Franklin was a paradox. He fiercely believed in the power of the individual, but he was a relentless advocate for acting on behalf of the community. He believed in competition, but he never hesitated to cooperate with competitors when it was in his interest. He could be the most partisan of politicians–and the most accommodating of diplomats. Throughout his life Franklin saw the world and its surroundings not in stark black-and-white contrast but rather in varying shades of gray–and acted accordingly….. More important, Franklin believed that as a participant in local and global affairs he could influence his world. And through his actions, he did.”
Certainly Ben Franklin is a role-model from whom we can learn. These principle provide a great foundation which can be used to guide our leadership walk…..
Technorati Tags: Role Model, Leadership, Principles, Example, Benjamin Franklin, Change, Learning, American, Partnership, Vision, Strategy
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