attila and the leadership

Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun

Based on the book by Wess Roberts, WarnerBooks, New York., N.Y., 1987

Attila the Hun

The Romans have done great things, buttheir time is past. What they have done,we can do. We should rule the world.

– Attila the Hun

Lust for Leadership: “You’veGot to want to Be in Charge

• Above all other traits, one who desires tolead must possess an intrinsic desire toachieve substantial personal recognitionand be willing to earn it in all fairness.


• You must remember that success in youroffice will depend largely upon yoursustained willingness to work hard. Sweatrules over inspiration.


• You must not be threatened by capablecontemporaries or subordinates. Be wisein selecting capable captains to achievethose things a chieftain can attain onlythrough strong subordinates.


• You've got to be ruthlessly ambitious. Neverbe bored, disinterested, or cowardly in anyway about always strengthening yourposition. Good leaders are lustful leaders.Power is like sex, but don't appear overeager,just extremely determined to succeed underany circumstances, fair or unfair. [This willinspire confidence in those you lead]

Peace in the Campus: “Moraleand Discipline”

• Huns seek discipline in their lives. Theyare more willingly to follow chieftainswho are themselves disciplined.


• Wise chieftains realize that unduly harshand unnecessary lax discipline will undo themorale of their Huns.


• NEVER CONDONE A LACK OF MORALE ORDISCIPLINE -- Terminate people at the first signof disrespect for the common good, but by nomeans stifle individualism or punish the innocentwho don't know the common good. Definitely, donot allow uncontrolled celebration. Pillaging andlooting are only fun if done in the name ofnationalism. [Discipline will build morale]


• NEVER TOLERATE ANYONE WITH THEIROWN AMBITIONS -- People who are "cunning"are dangerous, especially new people who havejust joined the organization. Be vigilant about howpeople lose their ambition and become teamplayers; that is the pattern you want everyone tofollow. Never reward anyone for what is acommon effort. [The spirit of unity must prevail]

The Fury of Internal Battles:“Cunning in the Tribes”

• Be wise and anticipate the “Brutus” ofyour camp. Beware of the treacherousHun who pledges loyalty in public thenspreads discontent in private. Make everyeffort to identify and remove thoseignoble characters, be they chieftains oryour best warriors.

The Fury of Internal Battles:“Cunning in the Tribes”

• Be approachable; listen to both good andbad news from your Huns.

• Be principled, not inflexible.

The Tribute: “Paying andReceiving Deference”

• When deference is born of fear, it resultsin an unwillingness to serve and becomesmanifested as passive resistance toauthority and purpose.


• Real deference results in unyieldingloyalty- a tribe full of spirits and willingto follow their chieftain in to the mouthof hell.


• Always pay proper courtesy to yoursubordinate leaders. Should you fail toaccord them respect, so will thesubordinates.

The Tribute: “Paying andReceiving Deference

• MAKE OTHERS ADAPT TO YOUR"CUSTOMS" -- Make people do things your way,not their way. Make them adjust or adapt to you.Express this as the way things are going to be fromnow on, or pretend it's the way things have alwaysbeen. Refuse to acknowledge any other way ofdoing things other than the way you do things.[This will extract tribute and praise from those youlead]

Battle Dress and Armament:“Chieftains Are As They Appear

to Their Huns”

• When on the hunt, be prepared to hunt.Take your best bow and lace, and wearthe clothing that will serve you well asyou chase the wild beasts in the forest.


to Their Huns”

• A chieftain should dress in fine skins andfurs-not to be draped by gold and silveradornments. Pompous appearance breedshate and give rise to contempt andlaughter among the ranks.


to Their Huns”

• ALWAYS APPEAR AS THE ONE INCHARGE -- Dress appropriately for yourhigh station in life. Own the biggest horseand sword. Be first in everything, but neverappear pompous. [Be marked with armament thatdistinguishes you from the masses]

Leading the Charge:“Responsibilities of the Chieftain”

• By their own actions, not their words, doleaders establish the morale, integrity andsense of justice of their subordinatecommanders. They cannot say one thingand do another.


• Leaders must attach value to highstandards of performance and have notolerance for the uncommitted.


• Chieftains must teach their Huns well thatwhich is expected of them. Otherwise,Huns will probably do something notexpected of them.

The Omen of Aquileia: “TheEssentials of Decisiveness”

• Wise is the chieftain who never makes adecision when he doesn’t understand theissue.


• A chieftain should allow his subordinatesthe privilege of making decisionsappropriate to their level of responsibility.Weak is the chieftain who reserves everydecision for himself out of fear that hemight lose control.


• It takes less courage to criticize thedecisions of others that stand by yourown.


• Self-confidence is critical to decisiveness,for without it, a chieftain loses hisfollowing in challenging situations.


• USE TIMING IN MAKING DECISIONS -- Neverrush a decision, although sometimes you have tobecause the moment is ripe or an omen exists. It'sbetter to use timing, to find the obscure places andcritical elements needed to ensure you alwaysmake the right decision. This way, you ensure thateven a less-than-perfect decision is followed.[Time your decisions]

Horse Holders: “The Art ofDelegation”

• Chieftains should never delegateresponsibilities necessitating their directattention.

Horse Holders: “The Art ofDelegation”

• Wise chieftains grant both authority andresponsibility to those to whom they havedelegated assignments.

Booty: “Rewarding Your Huns”

• Be generous with small tokens ofappreciation-they will multiply in retunedloyalty and service.

Booty: “Rewarding Your Huns”

• EXPLOIT THE DESIRE TO ENJOY THESPOILS OF WAR -- Harness your peoples'desires for short-term gains. Grant smallrewards for light tasks. Reserve heaps ofbooty for other times, and be generous withitems that hold a value to yourself. [Neverunderestimate the ability to buy obedience]

Attila and the Pope: “The Art ofNegotiation”

• It is never wise to gain by battle whatmay be gained through bloodlessnegotiations.


• Honor all commitments you make duringnegotiations lest your enemy fail to trustyour word in the future.


• Never trust negotiations to luck. Enterevery session armed with knowledge ofthe enemy’s strengths and weaknesses;knowing his secrets makes you strong.


• ONLY ENGAGE IN WARS YOU CANWIN -- Use diplomacy, negotiation, or othertechniques of conflict in battles you cannotwin. When in a political war, always keepan eye to your rear. When in an external war,go all out. [Waging war is a natural condition]

Surviving Defeat: “There is AnotherDay”

• Sometimes you will lose, regardless ofhow prepared you are to win.

Surviving Defeat: “There is AnotherDay”

• Lament, if necessary, but do not dwell toolong on your bad moments lest they riseto rule your emotions forever.

• As a Hun breathes, all is not lost.

The Bones of Caravans Past:“Lessons Learned”

• We must never fail to analyze the past.No bleached bone of a battle lost Hunmust go unnoticed as we prepare for thefuture by laying aside the ill-conceivedand undisciplined strategies of our past.

The book ends with a selection of“Attilaisms” Consider the following

A king with chieftains whoalways agree with him reaps the

counsel of mediocrity.

The greatness of a Hun ismeasured by the sacrifices he is

willing to make.

Seldom are self-centered,conceited and self-admired

chieftains great leaders, but theyare great idolizers themselves.

Great chieftains never takethemselves too seriously.

It is unfortunate when finaldecisions are made by the

chieftains’ headquarters-milesaway from the front.

The ability to make difficultdecisions separates Chieftains

from Huns.

Wise chieftains never place theirHuns in situations where theirweaknesses will prevail over

their strengths.

Delegation is not abdication.Abdication is a sign of

weakness. Delegation is a signof strength.

Huns should engage only inwars they can win.

For Huns, conflict is a naturalstate.

Critical to a Hun’s success is aclear understanding of what the

King wants.

There is more nobility in being agood Hun than in being a poor

chieftain.

If an incompetent chieftain isremoved, seldom do we appointhis highest-raking subordinate

to his place. For when achieftain has failed, so likewisehave his subordinate leaders.

If you tell a Hun he is doing agood job when he isn’t, he willnot listen long and, worse, will

not believe praise when it isjustified.

Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun

Based on the book by Wess Roberts, WarnerBooks, New York., N.Y., 1987

attila and the leadership

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