Chapter 5: Said Nursi: Six Educational Leadership Lessons

Said Nursi is a 20th-century scholar who provided educational leadership at a time when his country was in dire need of such leadership. Turkey was enduring hardships, such as World War I and then World War II, while feeling the brunt of significant educational, political, religious, and legal reforms. Nursi’s contribution was through his written work, the Risale-i Nur (Treatise of Light), and through his own life. When Nursi’s life and written work are considered, six leadership lessons are identified: (a) be open to changing your leadership strategy; (b) focus on the priorities; (c) use analogies to strengthen your message; (d) share your struggles with your followers; (e) instill hope in individuals; and (f) advise yourself before you advise others. These leadership lessons continue to be relevant today, especially in educational leadership, since Nursi was first and foremost an educator.