The book "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry tells the story of a man who met a little prince from another planet in the desert. It is a beautiful story teaching us not to forget the little things in life. However, from the book, we can extract valuable lessons about leadership - both what to avoid and what to embrace.
Six Lessons About Lack of Leadership
In his journey, the little prince meets several characters who each represent different failures of leadership:
1. The King
"Approach, so that I may see you better," said the king, who felt consumingly proud of being at last a king over somebody.
The king sees himself as an absolute monarch who does not tolerate any disobedience. He takes pride in ruling over others. Similarly, some leaders aspire to leadership positions simply because they love authority. Their primary motivation is the power to give orders and see people obeying them.
People like the king rarely explain their actions; if you ask why, they don't educate you. They simply say, "We are doing this because I say so." These leaders don't ask "why?" to learn, but rather to undermine the authority of their superiors so they can assume power themselves.
2. The Conceited Man
"Ah! Ah! I am about to receive a visit from an admirer!" he exclaimed from afar, when he first saw the little prince coming.
This man craves compliments and actively seeks them out. Such leaders act not because something is right or good, but because they want praise. They are motivated primarily by hearing: "Wow, that was good", "Amazing", "You are a great man". Their leadership depends entirely on others' perception of them.
A good compliment can give someone strength and confirmation about going in the right direction. But it cannot be the main reason for your actions. As the book says, "Conceited people never hear anything but praise."
3. The Tippler (Drunkard)
This man drinks because he is ashamed of his drunkenness. He needs alcohol to forget his shame. He represents people who are trapped in cycles of failure and avoidance.
Similarly, some leaders continue ineffective practices and resist innovation because they fear failure and the shame it might bring. They hide behind their position of authority, too embarrassed to acknowledge their mistakes.
4. The Businessman
This man is counting stars, because he owns them.
"And what good does it do you to own the stars?"
"It does me the good of making me rich."
He derives importance from owning the stars. This type of person seeks leadership merely for the sake of possession and control. They find satisfaction not in creating value but in accumulating it. Their priority is to continuously acquire more, valuing ownership as an end in itself rather than as a means to accomplish something meaningful.
5. The Lamplighter
The little prince finds it amusing that on such a small planet, the lamplighter works ceaselessly: he must turn the lamp off as soon as he lights it because day arrives so quickly, then immediately relight it as night falls again.
The lamplighter represents those who follow routines without understanding their purpose. They never pause to question their actions, instead performing tasks out of tradition or obedience to instructions. As a result, they perpetuate processes that may have lost their meaning or efficiency.
6. The Geographer
This man possessed extensive theoretical knowledge about his field. He could identify every river and mountain, yet had never visited any of these places himself.
The geographer represents those who accumulate knowledge without practical experience. They pride themselves on theoretical expertise but never apply what they know. Though comfortable with their intellectual status, they lack the courage to venture beyond theory into practical application.
Five Little Lessons to Bring Into Leadership
The little prince's encounters on Earth provide valuable leadership insights:
1. Don't Be Naive (The Snake)
When the snake spoke in riddles about its deadly power, the little prince immediately understood the danger. While he struggled to comprehend the king, the conceited man, the drunkard, the businessman, the lamplighter, and the geographer, he instantly recognized malicious intent.
This teaches us to remain vigilant even while maintaining kindness and simplicity. Good leaders balance optimism with a realistic awareness of potential threats.
2. Seek Multiple Sources (The Flower)
He was looking for the humans and he asked the flower where to meet them. She said there could only be 6 or 7 human beings on the earth, because she only saw a few.
The flower proved to be an unreliable source of information. How often do we make the mistake of relying on the first source we encounter? When exploring unfamiliar subjects, we should seek multiple perspectives rather than settling for the first information we receive.
3. Listen to Others (The Mountain)
On the mountain, the little prince called out only to hear the echo of his own voice returning to him.
This perfectly illustrates how many leaders lose their effectiveness when they reach the peak of success. Surrounded by their own achievements, they begin to hear only themselves, becoming deaf to advice, feedback, and new ideas from others.
4. Manage Expectations (The Garden of Roses)
Before leaving his planet, the little prince believed his rose when she claimed to be unique in the universe. Later, he discovered an entire garden full of identical roses.
This teaches leaders to manage expectations wisely. Disappointment is inevitable when we hold unrealistic ideals about others or ourselves. Effective leadership requires balancing optimism with realistic expectations.
5. Build Connections (The Fox)
The fox teaches the little prince the vital importance of forming meaningful connections with others.
Effective leadership is never solitary. Leaders exist to help solve people's problems, and this requires genuine relationships. Without these connections, we risk making the same mistakes as the king, the conceited man, the businessman, the drunkard, the lamplighter, and the geographer. It's noteworthy that each of these flawed figures lived in isolation on their own planets.
The path forward is clear: remain vigilant, continuously observe and learn, practice forgiveness, and above all, nurture the connections that give meaning to your leadership.
Final Thoughts
Saint-Exupéry's timeless tale reveals that authentic leadership has little to do with power, possession, or prestige. Instead, it centers on understanding others, pursuing genuine knowledge, listening attentively, setting realistic expectations, and cultivating meaningful relationships. Effective leaders consciously avoid the pitfalls exemplified by the isolated planetary inhabitants and instead embody the wisdom the little prince discovers on Earth. Like this beloved character, the best leaders remain simultaneously pragmatic and idealistic, aware of life's challenges while never losing sight of what truly matters.
Comments (3)
John Doe
March 5, 2025Fascinating analysis! I've always loved "The Little Prince" but never saw the leadership connections before.
Jane Smith
March 6, 2025This is exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you for the thoughtful analysis!
Michael Johnson
March 7, 2025I think the fox's lesson about building connections is the most important takeaway. Great article!