On the premise that the people are the creators of history, historical materialism also recognizes the role of ordinary individuals, especially outstanding figures, in the historical process. The so-called outstanding figures refer to those leaders, politicians, thinkers, scientists and artists who can reflect the requirements of the times, represent the interests of advanced classes, strata or social groups and play a progressive role in historical development. It should be distinguished from those historical figures who hinder the development of history. They are not outstanding figures. The historical role of outstanding figures is relative to the role of ordinary individuals, and its great historical role is shown in.

(1) Outstanding figures are the initiators of certain historical tasks.

Excellent people can grasp the pulse of the times in time and reflect the trend and requirements of social development, so they are always higher, farther and more eager than people of the same class and contemporaries. They can discover new historical tasks as soon as possible and put forward progressive ideas, programs and slogans, thus pointing out the road and direction for the struggle of the people and the progressive class. If no one initiated it, the pace of historical progress would be slower.

(2) Outstanding figures can not change the trend of historical development, but can accelerate the process of history.

They are not only good at discovering and respecting the initiative of the masses, but also good at organizing struggles with the masses. At the critical moment, they can make the right decision. For example, Mao Zedong organized the Zunyi meeting in time in 1935, which overcame Wang Ming's "left-leaning" wrong line. Deng Xiaoping stopped focusing on class struggle at the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee in 1978 and shifted the focus of the party's work to the economy.

(3) It is the organizer and leader who completes certain historical tasks.

Excellent people have rich organizational skills and struggle experience. They are good at concentrating the wisdom of the masses, formulating correct plans and measures, and organizing and leading their own classes and the masses to win the struggle. Without their organization and leadership, any mass struggle and historical movement can not last, let alone succeed. Therefore, outstanding figures not only deeply branded their will in historical events, but also had a far-reaching impact on the historical process.