Beware of Caesarism: A Guide to Staying Grounded Amidst Power
Marcus Aurelius, the stoic philosopher who was thrust into the Roman purple, understood and dreamed of the passions of unlimited power and the knife’s thin edge on which such pursuits trotted. His warning against sliding into what he called ‘Caesarism’ is timeless – being dictatorial, becoming a populist, out of touch with the rest of one’s party and ultimately being betrayed. It's like being at the top of the Spotify charts: one minute your the lyricist of all time, the next your on VH1’s where are they now mockery.
The Emperor’s New Groove: Staying Humble at the Top
But now, applying it to today’s imperial advice with today’s contemporary business world, a legion essentially being your project team, your IG and X followers, the message is as applicable. Leadership, be it over armed forces or an international company, is a very dubious thing indeed, and the slippery slope is even greased with butter of the flattery of so called “YES” men.
Think of the character Michael Scott from the TV Series, The Office, but he is now the President of the United States with privileges of issuing executive orders. Hilarious? Absolutely. Terrifying? Even more so. The way to prevent this shift to corporate Caesarism is by keeping a check on the Michael Scott inside every company through the essence of Pam’s rationality in contrast to Jim’s jovial mischief.
Pop Culture Pilgrims: Managing the Course of Humility
Living in a world where ‘Game of Thrones’ is not just an imaginary TV show but a business environment, how then do people find themselves? Taking a note from Jon Snow’s book – he never asked for power and yet he was thrust into a position of authority, he may look gloomy but he only wanted to rule for the good of the people and not for his selfish desires. The lesson? One must always remember where they are coming from even if one is in the highest position or company.
So, keep in mind that even Darth Vader sought his consolation not in the oppression of the universe but in the restoration of his humanity. Your company may not span the galaxy, and your struggle for ultimate control could be settled via PowerPoint rather than violence, but it’s the same precept.
The Beat Goes On: Striving for Humanity
How does one be humane in the ivory glass and steel boxes of the corporate world? Start small. Educate yourself more than you try to educate others. Make an effort to know every employee’s name, from the CEO down to the cleaner. And maybe, just maybe, open a tap on that party and sing karaoke even if you are a Wookie to the core.
In other words, to avoid tumbling into Caesarism, understand that leadership is not about the power and authority being vested in the leader; instead, it is vested in the people. It’s about being closer to a ‘Big Friendly Giant’ than to a dark sorcerer; being closer to lawyer, who fights for justice than a politician, who fights for power.
Falling is not just about tumbling to the ground
Don’t underestimate Marcus Aurelius’ note on this Caesarism by thinking the physical fall is worse than the drastic fall from values and humanity. So, as you navigate the corridors of power, whether in the Senate of Rome or the boardrooms of the modern world, remember: be a force for good and a master of humility. And in the end, when you're dancing at the edge of power, it's not about not falling - it's about knowing that if you do, you've got a parachute packed with humility, and the updrafts of empathy and kindness to bring you back.