Leadership Lessons from Akbar the Great

Akbar hunted for the best people to work for him. He picked the most exceptionally talented 9 people from his empire and offered them to be his courtiers. These men later went on to be called ‘Akbar’s Navratnas’ (Akbar’s 9 Gems). Akbar knew what he was looking for in a man, and this clarity ensured that he always picked the best from the pool.

Akbar was gifted with a brilliant foresight. He predicted his most potent future opponents and used his smooth diplomacy skills to settle any possible disputes. When he anticipated the Rajputs are his strongest adversaries, he married the Rajput princess and won over the fierce, but loyal, Rajput kings. While marrying your competitor’s daughter won’t help you in today’s corporate world, you know what we mean.

While the sword and bows from the battlefield never quite let him reach for a pen, the illiterate ruler built a library of over 24,000 volumes. It stocked books written in Sanskrit, Hindustani, Persian, Greek, Latin, Arabic and Kashmiri to begin with. He enthusiastically invited intellectuals and religious leaders to share their perspectives on life, religion and management.

Akbar’s organizational reforms were accompanied by military innovations. Under him the Mughals effectively used cannons, elephants, fortification and matchlocks. He built diplomatic relations with Ottomans and Europeans to get his hands on the most advanced firearms and artillery. He encouraged innovation in nearly every field. His military muscle got him the title of the ruler of the ‘Gunpower Empire’.