Lee Kuan Yew Leadership Profile

Lee Kuan Yew was the first and longest serving Prime Minister of Singapore. It was his leadership that transformed Singapore from a third world country into a thriving metropolitan city in just three decades.

A Short Biography

Lee Kuan Yew was born in 1923 as the eldest child of Lee Chin Koon. He studied in the top schools in Singapore and went to the London School of Economics briefly for his university education before moving to Cambridge where he obtained his Law degree.

He returned to Singapore, where he became a legal advisor to student and trade unions. Here he made many connections that would aid him in his political career later on.

Lee started his political career under a Pro-British Progressive Party as an election agent. Soon after, he co-founded the People’s Action Party (PAP) with the aim of ending British colonial rule and attaining self-governance for Singapore. On 5 June 1959, Lee became the first Prime Minister of Singapore when PAP won the most seats in the legislative assembly.

To end British colonial rule, Lee pushed for a merger with Malaysia. The Federation of Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963 but the integration proved to be unsuitable for both sides. Just two years later, the then-Malaysian Prime Minister decided that Singapore should leave the federation.

This was the lowest point of Lee’s life, but also the turning point for Singapore’s success. Although Lee was in anguish at that point, he never gave up on his vision for Singapore. With Lee at the helm, an independent Singapore developed into the thriving metropolitan city it is today.

After stepping down as Prime Minister in 1990, Lee served as Senior Minister and then Minister Mentor in the government, advising the country’s new generation of leaders on national issues. He passed away on March 23rd, 2015 from pneumonia.

Singapore is one of the world’s success stories and Lee is the man behind it. Although many critics question his style of leadership and describe it as autocratic and dictatorial, Singapore’s meteoric rise as a city-state is undeniable.

Awards and Honours

  1. Order of the Companions of Honour
  2. Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service

Leadership Lessons from Lee Kuan Yew

1. Say it as it is

One of Lee’s most obvious qualities was his straightforwardness. He was not afraid to be blunt about what he saw as the truth. This approach came across as too abrasive for some.

Still, the ability to be honest is key for a leader. The best thing you can do for your team is to acknowledge and speak the truth. It might ruffle a few feathers, but to allow your team to face the truth is probably the best thing you can do for them.

Although some might be offended or feel uncomfortable, you will gain a lot of respect for doing so. People know that they can trust you.

2. Plan your leadership succession

Lee planned for succession years before he actually stepped down as Prime Minister. He saw the importance of grooming the next generation to lead the nation. As the saying goes, there is no success without a successor.

Your organization must transcend you and you must be humble enough to acknowledge that. Strive to build an organization centered around a mission or purpose instead of an organization centered around you.

Be generous with sharing your experiences and advice with the next generation of leaders that you are grooming. Equip them with the information and knowledge they’ll need to continue growing the organization. A great leader will ensure that those that step into his shoes have the best chance of success.

3. Stay tenacious

Lee went through his toughest period during the separation of Malaysia and Singapore. Him shedding tears on public television marked one of Singapore’s most historic moments.

However, even with this setback Lee never gave up. He strengthened his resolve and continued to believe that he could develop Singapore into what he envisioned it to be.

A leader must have this resolve to press on no matter how difficult the circumstances. In fact, it is this quality that separates the good from the great. Anyone can lead well when circumstances are favorable, but it is your conduct in times of adversity that distinguishes you as an excellent leader.

Moreover, when you continually choose to press on, you will develop a tenacity and persistence that will help you throughout your leadership journey.

Books about Lee Kuan Yew

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From Third World to First: The Singapore Story – 1965-2000

From a struggling country with almost no prospects, to a thriving Asian metropolis and one of the busiest business centers of the world; Singapore has come a long way since its independence in 1965. Lee Kuan Yew is the founding father of Singapore as we know it today, and with this book you can learn all about his amazing achievements in his own words.

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Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master’s Insights on China, the United States, and the World

For more than fifty years, Lee Kuan Yew made a stand on the world stage, highly revered and respected for the words of wisdom he brings with every speech. Read about his profoundly moving perspective on the geopolitics of both the East and West.

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The Wit and Wisdom of Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew almost single-handedly propelled Singapore to its admirable position in today’s world, while establishing himself as one of the most influential and prominent leaders in modern geopolitics. Read through almost 600 quotations by this wise, memorable and profound leader.

Quotes from Lee Kuan Yew

“Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I’m meaningless.”

“If you can’t force or are unwilling to force your people to follow you, with or without threats, you are not a leader.”

“What I fear is complacency. When things always become better, people tend to want more for less work.”

“If you think you can hurt me more than I can hurt you, try. There is no other way you can govern a Chinese society.”

“I do not yet know of a man who became a leader as a result of having undergone a leadership course.”

“I always tried to be correct, not politically correct.”

“Low salaries will draw in the hypocrites who sweet talk their way into power in the name of public service, but once in charge will show their true colour, and ruin the country.”

“If you deprive yourself of outsourcing and your competitors do not, you’re putting yourself out of business.”

“When you’re Singapore and your existence depends on performance – extraordinary performance, better than your competitors – when that performance disappears because the system on which it’s been based becomes eroded, then you’ve lost everything… I try to tell the younger generation that and they say the old man is playing the same record, we’ve heard it all before. I happen to know how we got here and I know how we can unscramble it.”

Lee Kuan Yew Leadership Video

Watch Lee Kuan Yew’s speech:

Other Links

Wikipedia: A highly detaled account of Lee Kuan Yew’s Life

More Political Leader Profiles

For leadership profiles of other famous Political leaders, including George Washington, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr, check out our Political Leadership Profiles section.

Also check out our Leadership Profiles book series. In each book, we study 10 influential leaders in Business, Military, Politics and Sports.

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