You can learn a lot from studying the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. I've read his autobiography as well as his sermons. But after watching the movie Selma and the HBO special "King in the Wilderness, something stirred me to jot down a few notes about the leader. In both instances, I noticed seven things that made him special and a tough act to follow. Accordingly, this article reveals seven leadership lessons.

1. Be prepared to stand by yourself .

For a long time Martin Luther King confronted the civil rights issue without support from his brethren in the pulpit. Even, many of the people he advocated for sat on the sidelines. He was ridiculed, denounced, and misunderstood. Still, he continued to stand. Simply put, the great ones risk everything to fight for what's right.

2. Listen to all sides of an issue.

Dr. King listened to all sides of an issue. If the other person's opinion differed, it did not diminish his respect for him. He was an intelligent warrior who was quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

3. Understand your call.

Martin understood what he was ordained to do, inside and outside the pulpit. Although he grew tired and weary, he remained steadfast. I believe that his obedience to carry out the call, regardless of death threats and harsh words, drove people crazy; Martin knew that his call was to lead this movement.

4. Embrace the assignment.

Let's be real. I don't think anyone is jumping for joy to be harmed or betrayed. Who pushes his or her way to the front of the line to accept this kind of assignment? Going to jail is no picnic.

On the contrary, I'm suggesting that Dr. King comprehended the magnitude of his charge. It was bigger than him. As a result, he kept his eyes on the prize. Similarly, you must be grounded in the reality of the endeavor and remain committed.

5. Know the real enemy.

Martin Luther looked beneath the surface to identify the real adversary; hatred reared its ugly head. And, he was aware that you can't overcome evil with evil. Now this way of thinking baffled many. As a human, your natural reaction is to strike back. How do you practice self-control when your mother or brother is being attacked? Yet, the non-violence approach commanded the attention of the masses and eventually moved them to act.

6. Remember to love.

Love conquers all. Hence, a leader must love. People are watching and expecting you to do the right thing. Walking in love is easy when people are nice; the test is loving people who are difficult. King suffered long and remained kind. He rejoiced in truth, bore all things, believed all things, and endured all things.

7. Keep Moving Forward.

As a leader, he kept things moving. If he were alive today, I believe he would tell us to keep moving forward. Progress is made through constant movement, not stagnation and complacency.

You're invited to visit https://www.everythingleadership.store to receive a FREE special report on resources for parents, educators, facilitators, and trainers. Stephanie Harbin, a motivational speaker and training specialist has developed and presented a wide range of programs for business, government, educational institutions, and nonprofits. Her focus is on leadership, strategy, training, career and personal development.