Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani education advocate who, at the age of 17, became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize after surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban. Born on July 12, 1997, Yousafzai became an advocate for girls’ education when she herself was still a child, which resulted in the Taliban issuing a death threat against her. On October 9, 2012, a gunman shot Malala when she was travelling home from school. She survived and has continued to speak out on the importance of education. In 2013, she gave a speech to the United Nations and published her first book, I Am Malala. In 2014, she won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Below are seven lessons that leaders can learn from to be more impactful:
Lesson 1: Great Leaders control their emotions
Malala’s goal is to get every child, especially girls, in school in troubled regions of the world. Even though Taliban shot her she never developed a negative feeling of revenge towards them. Being able to control your emotions is not a sign of weakness, a saint, or pushover.
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength” Marcus Aurelius
Great leaders make every effort not to succumb to the emotions that threaten to undermine them. It is always wise to question yourself this: Will acting out this emotion help me get to the goal I have been working hard for or will it just come in the way?
Lesson 2: A leader should give others a voice
Most people confuse leadership with one who has all the ideas. Malala is an example of someone who portrays the opposite. She is a great listener and does not assume that she knows it all. As someone who has been awarded a Nobel Prize, you would expect her to go to troubled regions like Syria, give a speech, get a standing ovation and leave.
This is what many leaders can learn from Malala: Every time she goes to places like Gaza, refugee camps in Jordan, in Nigeria, in Kenya, and Sierra Leone- she often asks questions that need to be answered by the young girls on the ground. A leader should spend time with customers or employees listening and talking less. A leader who isolates him/herself will lose touch with reality. Knowledge is power and those leaders who listen will always know more than those who do not.
Lesson 3: Fight for what you believe in
Many great leaders got to the top because they have a relentless belief in the cause they are fighting for. This sometimes requires one to sacrifice your own life and other important things like time with friends and family. Malala’s commitment to standing up for what she believes in even under the toughest circumstances as she turns fear into bravery is an inspiration to us all.
“They thought a bullet would silence us, but they failed. Nothing changed in my life except this: Weaknesses, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.” Malala
Lesson 4: Believe that you can change the world
Malala is a luminary for us all, showing us that our voices and beliefs matter even when the odds may be stacked against us. As Malala continues to work tirelessly towards creating a better future for girl’s education and children’s rights, we should all try to learn from her courage and aspire to change the world for the better, as Malala has empowered us to do.
“We live in a world of over 7-billion individuals. Each person is different. Each person on earth has something unique to offer the world. What’s your gift? What wonderful things do you have to offer? Don’t ever doubt for a second the power you have to make a difference.”
Lesson 5: Have the courage to speak up
You have a voice and it is important that you use it. Speak out against injustice, let people know how you feel, tell someone that you love them, share your opinions, thoughts, and concerns. You have something (or many things) important to say. Share your thoughts, ideas, and passions with the world.
“If you don’t raise your voice, it is unlikely anyone will hear you.”
Lesson 6: Learn from your mistakes
Every mistake you might make is an opportunity in disguise. You may not make the same mistake again or try another method to solve your problem. Don’t beat yourself up too much when you make a mistake. It shows that you are trying something. Keep going and use the mistakes as a lesson!
“I think everyone makes a mistake at least once in their life. The important thing is what you learn from it.”
Lesson 7: Never give up
For the love of all that’s good in this world; your beliefs, your passions- please never give up. If you care about something, or someone, no matter what happens, refuse to quit! Never give up, and always seek motivation to fuel your drive. If anyone can do it, you can. Surround yourself with people and messaging that keeps you going, and encourage you to never give up or lose hope.
Bonus Lesson: Speak truth to power
“I expressed my concerns that drone attacks are fueling terrorism. Innocent victims are killed in these acts, and they lead to resentment among the Pakistani people. If we refocus efforts on education it will make a big impact.” Malala