There have been many inspiring leaders since our world has existed. Leaders that we as (sales) managers or salespeople can learn a lot from. Instead of always reinventing the wheel, it is extremely interesting to see which iconic people serve as models for solving certain problems and challenges. Today we have listed a number of them for you. Do you have inspiring examples yourself? Please let us know. 

Sun Tzu: know yourself and your opponent

Sunzi, known as Sun Tzu, was a Chinese general around 500 BC. He is considered one of the founders of warfare and his ideas are still read by military officers and managers. Sun Tzu is known for his countless spells that are as simple as they are powerful. Perhaps the most beautiful of all his sayings is 'If you know the enemy and yourself, you do not have to fear the outcome of 100 battles'. A wise lesson. Know who is in front of you in pitches and conversations. Know what drives and expects the opponent. And, know yourself. Know what you can and cannot do. If you manage to do that, half the work is already done and you never have to worry about the result. If you want to learn more from Sun Tzu, read the book 'The art of war'.

Mandela: no place for revenge and bitterness

Mandela is a legend, there is no doubt about that. Although he has been criticized in some parts of the world, for example for his relationship with Fidel Castro, delving into Mandela's life guarantees inspiration. For example, what to think of the beautiful statement 'It always seems impossible, until it's done', which appeals to the imagination especially in the landscape of startups, innovators and disrupters. However, the lesson that Mandela, like no other, has given to the world mainly concerns the feelings of revenge that are inherent in man. Being locked up for decades and wanting to cooperate with your tormentors after your release is a level of forgiveness that not many people will be able to emulate. A wise lesson. In our profession, whether you are a manager or a salesperson, there is no place for revenge or bitterness. Always remain on good terms with your customers and contacts, even if they choose a different party. The times that a good relationship ultimately leads to a great collaboration cannot be counted on two hands.

Mao: fear is counterproductive

Mao is perhaps one of the most fearsome leaders the world has ever known. Dictator and at the same time still loved by many Chinese. Mao is linked to the deaths of an estimated 40-70 million people. Society under Mao was characterized by deep fear. A fear that has had a paralyzing effect. A fear that causes intelligent people to choose suboptimal solutions. We can learn from that. There is often fear in today's business world. Fear of the boss, fear of the consequences of a fact. This encourages employees to make wrong (defensive) decisions to play safe. And that is completely counterproductive.

Gandhi: Patience is a virtue

We conclude our list of greats and well-known leaders with Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian politician who dedicated his life to an independent India and reconciliation between Christians and Muslims. The main mark that Gandhi left on history is that of nonviolent resistance. But perhaps what characterizes Gandhi even more is his patience. The iron patience to bring about change without violence. In our own profession, patience also plays a major role. Especially in sales processes, frustration can set in when the process takes months. Never lose your patience or be encouraged to disrupt a process. Pushing will rarely bring you success.