On Leadership

What are the hallmarks of good leaders? One is that they have great self-awareness. Know yourself, and you understand your strengths, and what you can do to enhance them, and your weaknesses, and what you must do to remedy them.

Self-awareness involves reflecting about how you lead every day, whether at work, on the sports field, in community projects and so on. It also involves reflecting on how others lead, and learning from their approaches and experiences - both the good and the bad. Most of us have had the misfortune to work under a poor leader, and have come away determined not to act like that person.

The classics provide unrivalled access to the wisdom of the great leaders of antiquity, and the hard lessons they encountered in politics and war. I learned a lot about leadership by reading Julius Caesar's commentaries - The Gallic War and The Civil War - and reflecting on how this great general led his troops on campaign.

Caesar's approach to leadership was energetic and imaginative. He showed great confidence and courage, but was not afraid to admit his mistakes and learn from them. Caesar was a master of strategy, but he was swift to change tack, or to switch to a new strategy, when things weren't working. He was also deeply reflective - W B Yeats conveyed this beautifully in the poem 'Long-legged fly': "His mind moves upon silence".

Caesar also commanded strong loyalty from his soldiers. This didn't come about by accident, or because Caesar was nice to them, or because he was a great guy. Caesar kept in close personal contact with small units of men in his armies. He worked closely with his centurions, knowing their names and their records, and seeking and heeding their advice.

Recently I was talking with a man in one of my teams. He is hard-working, able, and has the potential to become a team manager. He asked if I would recommend some books on leadership to read. He must have anticipated that I would recommend "The 50 Habits of Highly Successful Managers" or some such bullshit, because he looked surprised when I suggested Xenophon's The Persian Expedition and Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. 

Why Xenophon? Because this ancient Greek commander provides us with a model of enlightened leadership - intelligent, approachable, based on example, intent on drawing out and using the ideas and skills of subordinates. 

Why Aurelius? Because this Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher (who featured briefly in the film "Gladiator") has profound but practical advice for today's leaders - on being calm, composed and dignified, even in the most trying circumstances, and on keeping things in their proper perspective. 

Comments

[fabius.maximus.cunctator]

Kotare

"La véritable école du commandement est la culture générale." (De Gaulle) If I recall correctly you read French.

I fully concur. Good idea go recommend real books not that "management" nonsense. "Management" books are quite good for practical things - organizing an office and so on, the rest is mostly, well, "cr*p".

One addition: I remember those of my leaders who have taught me something, knowledge, an attitude, the right questions to ask etc. even smallest things.

Good leaders often leave "schools" behind them although the pupils are not always surpass their masters (Moltke the Elder p.ex.)

One a far more modest level when a member of a team I have now left (my first "own" team) referred to "the many things you have taught me" I was both surprised (no time for formal training then) and pleased (must have done st right there).

BTW there is a bio of Caesar by L. Canofora which has been translated in 06. Ever read it? Despite the author`s politics I rather like it.

[Jeff]

Outstanding post Kotare. Caesar really excelled at recovering from his mistakes. That seems to me to be one of his best attributes. Caesar also pushed the virtues of "Celeritas" (swiftness) in everything he did. Speed, a sense of urgency, kept him and his army on top of the objective constantly.

[Smitten Eagle]

Agree on the two books you mentioned. I would add a few others, however:

-Leadership: The Warrior's Art, by Kolenda. This book takes some digesting but discusses the more sublime aspects of military leadership. I don't recommend it for an NCO. I would recommend it for a junior officer, however.

-The Challenge of Command, by Nye. A great book on how to select, read, and digest military books. Individual study is integral to officership, and this book is the place to start.

-Anything written by Stockdale. He was the modern stoic military man. He illustrates how to put stoic military leadership into practice.

-Don't limit yourself to nonfiction works! Read Once an Eagle, by Myrer. It's the best piece of military fiction so far, and discusses many aspects of military leadership in the course of the 50-year epic.

[Kotare]

Hi Fabius - re. "I remember those of my leaders who have taught me something, knowledge, an attitude, the right questions to ask etc. even smallest things."

That's a perceptive point. I remember two men I used to work for who taught me practical tips that I've routinely used ever since.

Hi Jeff - thanks, and yes, I agree that swiftness was one of Caesar's hallmarks. "Speed is the essence of war," as Sun-tzu wrote.

Hi SE - thanks for the recomendations. Re. Stockdale, Wikipedia links to two pdf articles that he wrote about applying Stoicism to leadership. I'll start with those.

[Smitten Eagle]

Kotare-

I'm interested in your impressions and thoughts on Stockdale's writings.

[Kotare]

SE - I'll read those two pdf documents this week - they look to be introductions to his thinking - and get back to you.

I see he's written a number of books. What would you recommend to start with?

[Smitten Eagle]

I recommend "Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot."

It is a compilation of his speeches, presentations, and letters regarding specifically his stoic thought, and how that thought brought him through the tough times in his life. Because it's a compilation, many themes are hit repetitively, although that's not necessarely a bad thing.

"In love and War" is also good. It was written by both Stockdale and his wife, each writing alternating chapters. It's more biographical in nature, and focuses on his POW experience. Fine read.

Those two pdfs on Wikipedia are a decent place to start, however.

[John]

Hi Kotare, this post has prompted me to share some of my favorite quotes on leadership.

It's good to be reading your posts again.

[Kotare]

Great to hear from you again, John. I'll check out your post.

[Yours Truly]

A Major in the U.S. Army has definite statements on leadership.He's got a blog @ donvandergriff.wordpress.com