Recently, I’ve been following in Lee Kuan Yew’s footsteps. Today I spent some time watching his videos on YouTube, and came across an interview he did at Harvard more than 10 years ago. Based on the interview, he pursued a distinctive leadership philosophy built on several core principles:
Foundational Leadership Principles
1. Crisis-Forged Leadership
LKY’s leadership was fundamentally shaped by crisis – the Japanese occupation, the Communist threat, and Singapore’s forced independence. He believed leaders are “tempered” by adversity, stating that crisis either “broke us or tempered us.”
2. Authority Through Trust in Crisis
His authority came from demonstrating trustworthiness during life-and-death situations:
- Standing up to Communist infiltration when it was dangerous
- Fighting Malay extremists despite military disadvantage
- Showing willingness to sacrifice for the people
“Authority comes from demonstrating TRUST in a time of crisis… when the chips are down and you can get eliminated in a very unpleasant way, and you show that you’re prepared for it and you’ll fight for them – it makes a difference.”
Core Leadership Characteristics
The “Big Five” Self-Assessment:
- Consistency – “I don’t say one thing today and another tomorrow”
- Determination – “I may not be able to do it this way but don’t believe I’ve given up”
- Communication – Ability to persuade people to his point of view
- Loyalty to trusted colleagues – “Use a man don’t distrust him, if you distrust him don’t use him”
- High Emotional Intelligence (EQ) – Essential for reading people and building teams
EQ Over IQ Philosophy
LKY rated himself:
- IQ: 120 (good enough)
- EQ: 7-8/10 (more critical)
“No leader can last long if his EQ is weak, because you’ve got to depend on other people to do the job.”
Practical Leadership Strategies
1. Incremental Cultural Change
Rather than forcing change through authority, he used market incentives:
- Language Policy: Made English advantageous for jobs rather than mandating it
- Military Service: Gradual cultural shift over decades through example and incentives
- Housing Policy: Gave everyone ownership stakes to create stability
2. Symbolic Leadership
- Wore white shirts and trousers to symbolize clean government
- Had his sons serve in the military like everyone else
- Personally led anti-corruption efforts
3. Learning-Oriented Approach
- Traveled extensively to learn from other countries’ mistakes
- Believed in “letting somebody else pay for the lesson”
- Constantly adapted strategies based on results
Governance Philosophy
Pragmatic Authoritarianism
- Prioritized effective governance over democratic ideals
- “Clean and effective government can drastically minimize people’s hardship”
- Believed people’s well-being was more important than abstract freedoms
Institutional vs. Personal Leadership
Started with personal leadership due to limited talent and weak institutions, then gradually built strong institutions as more capable people became available.
Long-term Vision with Short-term Flexibility
- Started with vision: “First World oasis in a Third World region”
- Constantly improvised tactics while maintaining strategic direction
- “You have to watch how far you can go without snapping loyalties”
Crisis Management Approach
“Galvanize Through Fear”
“You can galvanize people easier when they are in a state of fright” – Used external threats to unite the population and drive change.
Personal Resilience Practices
- Daily physical exercise (swimming, cycling)
- Meditation to calm the mind
- Reading for mental stimulation
- “If you’re not physically fit, you’re going to make mistakes”
The Mission-Driven Leader
LKY emphasized that leaders must have a sense of mission over personal gain:
- “Without that mission and purpose, you’re not a good leader. When you face setbacks, you’ll give up.”
- Distinguished between “missionary” vs “mercenary” motivations
- Believed leaders must want to “do something for his fellow men, not just for himself and his family”
Context-Dependent Leadership
He strongly believed leadership must be adapted to cultural context:
“Leadership has to be exercised in the context of the society it is in – without that context, it doesn’t make sense.”
This philosophy allowed him to build Singapore from a struggling post-colonial city-state into a prosperous first-world nation through a unique blend of pragmatic authoritarianism, long-term vision, and adaptive implementation strategies.