Topgrading

Last week I was in Turkey and heard about a man who has to be one of the most successful leaders of the 20th century — Ataturk of Turkey. I couldn’t believe what people were saying about him, so I picked up some biographies (best is Ataturk: Founder of a Modern State). This guy was the most courageous and effective change agent and leader imaginable.

In a nutshell: It’s WWI, and the Ottoman Empire lost, but Mustafa Kemal (later added a last name, Ataturk), a military leader for the Sultan, didn’t give up. He decided to start a country, call it Turkey (like the US losing a war but someone trying to salvage part of it, say, Massachusettes, with a new name). Trouble was, the “Turks” had no identity and the people were backward (think 12th century), superstitious, hyper religious, and lazy. Not many A players.

Ataturk, who had never lost a battle, realized his vision — he started popular assemblies that ultimately elected him and made him supreme commander and he whipped the Allies and separately the Sultan’s forces. At the same time he led processes to get his country and the world to recognize a new country (Turkey) and a new constitution that substituted a democracty for a theocracy, gave women full rights, stimulated free enterprise, and the value of world peace (in other words, giving up wars for expansion).

Unbelievable! He converted a totally backward religious people into a secular state. As an aside, I can’t believe the US has been mistreating Turkey — the perfect model for how Iraq might change, and it’s next door to Iraq.

The biography has some fascinating leadership insights — like how to defeat armies (militarily), Islamic fundamentalists (war of ideas and values), and move a heck of a lot of cheeze. He changed the language (discarding Arabic in favor of Roman), got everyone to add a last name (too many Mustafa guys), and helped a populus of lazy goat herders to become hard working capitalists. One of his tactics:

Pretend a change isn’t necessary, sneak it in, and then claim it was inevitable … while constantly adding A players to the ranks of supporter.

If you liked this blog, read about a dude who, against all odds, started a country (called the United States). Nope, not George Washington, but William Bradford. Read a short synopsis of full article I published by signing up for the monthly newsletter Topgrading Tips and keeping your eye out for the next issue.