I caught Alan Hirsch’s blog on the leadership principles of Nelson Mandela, who is one of my all time heroes.

Here are his eight principles…

1. Courage is not the absence of fear — it’s inspiring others to move beyond it
2. Lead from the front — but don’t leave your base behind
3. Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front
4. Know your enemy — and learn about his favorite sport
5. Keep your friends close — and your rivals even closer
6. Appearances matter — and remember to smile
7. Nothing is black or white
8. Quitting is leading too

You can read more here.

As a reflection, I think I have heard them all before in some way or another apart from number 8. My instant reaction was that to quit was wrong and surely not part of leadership. Is quitting in this sense, though, any different to ‘knowing which battles to fight and which to leave?’

Ahead of me there is a point of principle that I wish to make a stand on. A number of people have, however, suggested to me that it would be wiser to choose my battles and that this one, although it may be honourable, is not worth fighting at this point in time. In that sense, then, it is good leadership to quit.

Quitting is leading to ….