I just saw a movie about William Wilberforce "Amazing Grace." After I watched the movie, I felt that I could learn from William Wilberforce on the meaning of Leadership from The Heart.
For those of you who do not know him, William Wilberforce was an English politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. Before he was known as someone who made changes to make a world a better place, he was someone who only looked after himself.
William Wilberforce was born from a wealthy family and when his parents passed away, they left him a great fortune where by it he did not need to work again for his entire life. as a result he had little inclination or need to apply himself to serious study. Instead, he immersed himself in the social round of student life, and pursued a hedonistic lifestyle enjoying cards, gambling and late-night drinking sessions.
William Wilberforce was born from a wealthy family and when his parents passed away, they left him a great fortune where by it he did not need to work again for his entire life. as a result he had little inclination or need to apply himself to serious study. Instead, he immersed himself in the social round of student life, and pursued a hedonistic lifestyle enjoying cards, gambling and late-night drinking sessions.
However, after his graduation from college, he started to pursue political career. During the first phase of his political career, he did not do something spectacular as his focus was still on himself. Only after he experienced the change of heart then he started to bring great impact upon a lot of people.
William Wilberforce experienced a change of heart when he read a religious book during one of his travel. He started to change the way he lived and also the way he looked at politics.
From that moment on, William Wilberforce started to dedicated his life to make a word a better place. He did a lot of great things, but the greatest thing that he did was to abolish slavery trade in Britain,
It is really a hard task as at the beginning he only had a few supporters in the parliament. However, he persevered and even though he experienced a lot of setbacks, finally the Slave Trade Act received the Royal Assent on 25 March 1807.
What we can learn from William Wilberforce?
First, William Wilberforce was motivated by helping others. He saw the injustice being done to the slaves and how cruel the slave traders treated their slaves. According to history, around 11.4 million slaves were being transported to British colonies and 1.4 million died during the travel. William Wilberforce took up the slaves cause even though he knew he would face a lot of opposition and as his health was not good since birth, it was also affected in the process. His motivation was not for himself, but purely for the betterment of others.
Second, William Wilberforce had a strong determination. That's also one of the characteristics of leader who lead from the heart. Even though he faced a lot of pressures and also being mocked by his counterparts in the parliaments. He persevered in his fight against slavery up to the point his best friend left him momentarily. He also faced failure several times in making the slave trade act being approved by parliaments. Despite all this, he never gave up as the thought about the cruelty of slavery was always fresh in his memory
Thirdly, William Wilberforce rolled up his sleeves and got dirty in the process. William spent his fortune and also his health in fighting the slavery. He ended almost lost both of them. When leaders start to lead from their heart, they will give all they can give to achieve the goal, to grow and develop people.
There are still a lot of things that we can learn from William Wilberforce, but one thing that we can take away is William led from his heart and it made him a great leader! His legacy still stays till today.
William Wilberforce experienced a change of heart when he read a religious book during one of his travel. He started to change the way he lived and also the way he looked at politics.
From that moment on, William Wilberforce started to dedicated his life to make a word a better place. He did a lot of great things, but the greatest thing that he did was to abolish slavery trade in Britain,
It is really a hard task as at the beginning he only had a few supporters in the parliament. However, he persevered and even though he experienced a lot of setbacks, finally the Slave Trade Act received the Royal Assent on 25 March 1807.
What we can learn from William Wilberforce?
First, William Wilberforce was motivated by helping others. He saw the injustice being done to the slaves and how cruel the slave traders treated their slaves. According to history, around 11.4 million slaves were being transported to British colonies and 1.4 million died during the travel. William Wilberforce took up the slaves cause even though he knew he would face a lot of opposition and as his health was not good since birth, it was also affected in the process. His motivation was not for himself, but purely for the betterment of others.
Second, William Wilberforce had a strong determination. That's also one of the characteristics of leader who lead from the heart. Even though he faced a lot of pressures and also being mocked by his counterparts in the parliaments. He persevered in his fight against slavery up to the point his best friend left him momentarily. He also faced failure several times in making the slave trade act being approved by parliaments. Despite all this, he never gave up as the thought about the cruelty of slavery was always fresh in his memory
Thirdly, William Wilberforce rolled up his sleeves and got dirty in the process. William spent his fortune and also his health in fighting the slavery. He ended almost lost both of them. When leaders start to lead from their heart, they will give all they can give to achieve the goal, to grow and develop people.
There are still a lot of things that we can learn from William Wilberforce, but one thing that we can take away is William led from his heart and it made him a great leader! His legacy still stays till today.
Written by:
Darvin Widjaja
Darvin Widjaja
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