Charismatic leaders, through their miraculous acts or heroic acts, draw people around them and turn them into their followers or followers.
Genghis Khan was one such charismatic leader under whose leadership the Mongols united as a single and achieved amazing historical achievements.
So, how did the young Genghis Khan grow into a charismatic leader?
Establish common ideals and enhance team cohesion
The ability of the Mongols to rule a country, an empire, or even the entire world was a common ideal shared by Genghis Khan and his followers. This common ideal has brought the Mongols closer together.
The germ of ideals
According to historical records, before Genghis Khan's birth, the Mongols had not yet mastered the method of writing, and the Mongols have been interpreting and inheriting the national culture through oral tales, legends and rap arts.
The germination of Genghis Khan's ideals probably originated from listening to the stories of his ancestors. Around 1130 AD, Genghis Khan's great-grandfather Hebul became the first ruler of all the Mongols, leading a confederation of steppe tribes with a rudimentary state.
Genghis Khan's cousin, Baba Child, was captured by the Jin rulers and crucified on a torture instrument called a wooden donkey, and before he was executed, he instructed his retinue to tell his descendants to avenge him.
Genghis Khan's father, who was also a leader with great ambitions, formed an alliance with the largest tribe north of the Great Wall, the Kereyiti tribe, in an attempt to forge ahead, but his ambition was unfulfilled and he was poisoned by the Tatars.
While listening to the stories of his ancestors, the young Genghis Khan already had great ambitions.
Ideal formation
By chance, Genghis Khan believed that he was blessed by the Immortal Heaven, and the ideal of unifying Mongolia began to take root in his heart.
In 1181 A.D., 19-year-old Genghis Khan hid in Bhuerkhaldun (the sacred mountain of the Mongols) in order to escape the pursuit of the Mir beggars, and miraculously survived in hunger and cold for three days.
As a token of gratitude, Genghis Khan "faced the sun, hung his belt around his neck, held his hat in his hand, beat his chest with the other hand, bowed nine times before the sun, and prayed to him."
He and his followers believed that the immortal heavens blessed Genghis Khan and gave him the mission to unify Mongolia as an important step towards leadership. Nothing can be more entrenched than this ideal and belief rooted in the spiritual world.
Ideal growth
As the size of his followers grew, so did Genghis Khan's ideals: from a state to an empire to the whole world.
Genghis Khan believed that the unification of Mongolia needed to be achieved by merging the tribes so that all members became nominal Mongols.
The combination of initial success and his belief in the support of the Mandate of Heaven inspires the loyalty of potential adversaries who threaten this ideal and who threatens them, and who require an enduring and shared ideal: the conquest of the entire world.
In order to realize the ideal, the Mongols united as a single and swept across Europe and Asia. Genghis Khan almost approached his goal, and this ideal of conquest continued for many years after his death.
Optimize individual personality and enhance team centripetal force
Genghis Khan's personality charm is not innate, but gradually formed in the continuous tempering of the day after tomorrow. This charisma won the respect and trust of the Mongols, who willingly worked for him.
Dare to face setbacks
The courage to face setbacks is an important embodiment of Genghis Khan's personality. Genghis Khan's life was marked by many major setbacks. When he was 9 years old, his father was killed by enemies on his way home, and the family was ostracized and forced to fend for themselves in hunger and cold.
Later, he was unfortunately captured by the enemy, and with the help of Suo'er Han's family, he was able to escape. When he was 19 years old, his wife was captured in a surprise attack by the Mir Beggars, and he and his followers hid for three days and three nights in Büerhanheldun (the sacred mountain of the Mongols) before escaping from their captivity.
When he was 41 years old, the leader of the Kereyiti tribe, Tojay, led a surprise attack on his army, and his army suffered heavy losses, and he fell into an unprecedented predicament. In the face of setbacks, Genghis Khan did not run away, but faced them bravely, rose up to fight, and finally defeated one enemy after another.
During this time, Genghis Khan was admired by the Mongols for demonstrating his courage in the face of setbacks and risking risks for love, honor, and revenge.
Be receptive to criticism
Openness to criticism is another important manifestation of Genghis Khan's charisma. When Genghis Khan was 13 years old, he and his half-brother Bektier got into an argument over prey sharing.
Ignoring his mother's persuasion, Genghis Khan and his younger brother Hazar laid an ambush on the side of the road with bows and arrows and shot Bektier. The mother reprimanded them harshly and called them aggressive beasts.
His mother's anger taught Genghis Khan a lesson he will never forget. Instead of resentment over this, he humbly accepted criticism and understood the boundaries between evil and good.
Growing up, Genghis Khan devoted himself to teaching his subjects that crimes have terrible and devastating consequences and are punished accordingly.
Have the courage to keep your promises
Keeping his promises is an important lesson that Genghis Khan learned in the course of his life. In a surprise attack by the Mir beggars, Genghis Khan's wife was captured. He asked for help from Tokul and Zamuhe, and together they sent an army against the Mir beggars.
In the process, Genghis Khan's army arrived at the rendezvous site three days later than the agreed time. Zamuhe angrily accused them: "Didn't we say that even if there is wind and snow, we must keep the contract.
Even if it rains, the rendezvous is not far behind. As soon as we Mongolians make a promise, it's like taking an oath, isn't it?"
Without it, the trust of allies will evaporate, morale will be low, and concerted action will become increasingly difficult, which will eventually lead to defeat.
Of course, Genghis Khan was not a god, and he also had a vulnerable side when he was growing up. Because of this, his courage, tolerance and integrity made it easier for the Mongols to "resonate" with him and follow in his footsteps with great enthusiasm.
Cultivate the wisdom of people and enhance the competitiveness of the team
In the process of growing up, Genghis Khan gradually recognized his strengths and weaknesses, made up for his shortcomings by selecting excellent talents, and was good at choosing the right allies in times of crisis, which together constituted Genghis Khan's wisdom of knowing people.
Face up to the shortcomings
Poor leaders tend to avoid and cover up their shortcomings, while great leaders have the courage to admit their shortcomings and constantly look for ways to improve them.
Genghis Khan realized that he could not govern the country effectively if he relied only on the technology available to the nomads, without the support of writing and law.
As a result, he introduced the Vultures writing system and formulated the Mongol Code, which improved the efficiency of management and maintained the stability and security of the country.
Meritocracy
Whereas mediocre leaders reject good talent, seeing them as a threat to themselves rather than an asset to their team, great leaders see the strengths of talent and give them the opportunity to make the most of their talents.
In addition to the Mongols, Genghis Khan's leadership team also included the Nabarbarians, the Mi'er beggars, the Tatars, the Khitans, and the Ughurs.
For his part, Genghis Khan did not mind reusing members of rival tribes if it helped the cause. Among all the ministers, the one who had the greatest influence on him was the Khitan Yelu Chucai. Yelu Chucai was well-read and well-versed in the operation of the Central Plains regime.
Genghis Khan greatly admired Yelu Chucai's talent and appointed him to the top administrator of the country. History has proved that Yelu Chucai played an important and positive role in shaping the character of Genghis Khan and the entire empire.
Identify allies
Stephen S. In his book The Origins of Alliances, M. Walter states: "In any competitive system, the ability to win allies is an extremely valuable resource.
On the contrary, it is at a clear disadvantage to cause other parties to unite against themselves. "Genghis Khan repeatedly chose the right allies at critical moments, thus ensuring the success of the cause.
Once, after being captured by the Taiyichi Vulties, Genghis Khan seized the opportunity to forge a friendship with Suo'er Hansun, and with his help, managed to escape.
On another occasion, after his wife was captured by the Mi'er beggars, Genghis Khan enlisted the help of Zamuhe and Tokul, successfully rescued his wife, and increased his prestige.
It is precisely because Genghis Khan has the wisdom to know people that even in his most critical moments, there are subordinates who have always followed him and are unwilling to leave.
Use the art of safety to enhance the stability of the team
Boost morale
Morale is a state of mind that can be understood in three ways. On a spiritual level, morale is a belief in a great cause, and participants must pursue it with an enterprising heart and a strong sense of achievement.
Intellectually, the participant must feel that the goal is achievable, that his team is efficient, and that his leadership is trustworthy.
On a material level, participants must feel materially assured, i.e. well-armed and favourable conditions for combat. In one battle, Genghis Khan suffered a crushing defeat.
With 19 loyal companions, he came to the shores of Lake Banjuni to repair. Genghis Khan saw that everyone was depressed, raised his hands to the sky and swore an oath: "Let me overcome the great cause, and I should share the joys and sorrows with all people. ”
These words of encouragement worked, and "the soldiers did not cry". Later, the companions of the "Banjuni water" became an important force in the unification of Mongolia by Genghis Khan.
Rewards and punishments are strict
Rewards and punishments are the most important means for leaders to employ people. Reward means to arouse the enthusiasm of subordinates by rewarding those who have made meritorious contributions; and punishment means punishing those who have done something wrong to ensure that orders are carried out.
If the rewards and punishments are strict, the leader will be able to unite the strength of his subordinates to achieve his goals, and if the rewards and punishments are chaotic, the leader will fall into the situation of betrayal and separation.
Genghis Khan was not greedy for wealth, and every time he won a battle, he would generously give most of the spoils to those who had merit, which also became a source of wealth for his followers.
But Genghis Khan also had his own bottom line: his ownership and distribution of the spoils of war could not be challenged. If a subordinate hides booty, the most severe punishment awaits him.
Arguments are allowed
Leaders who are good at handling arguments are able to get all team members to tell the truth, get to the point of the argument, and then find a solution that is acceptable to all.
Genghis Khan was open to proposals, the most representative example of which is his handling of the issue of succession. Genghis Khan did not evade the issue of the succession of his four sons, but made it public and spoke widely.
During this period, the eldest son Jochi and the second son Chagatai quarreled. The two were reminded to reminisce about the difficult years of the past and cherish their hard-won achievements. The two brothers reached a settlement and agreed that the third son, Wo Kotai, was stable and reliable, and was worthy of the task.
Genghis Khan did not directly intervene in the whole affair. His practice of allowing arguments had a good effect, and the sons formed a consensus after the arguments. This not only avoids the alienation of losers, but also relieves future risks.
Genghis Khan's art satisfies his subordinates and the people, and responds with self-sacrifice, obedience, and loyalty.
Genghis Khan established himself as a beloved and charismatic leader by establishing common ideals, sharpening individual personality, cultivating wisdom and applying the art of peacemaking.