Et tu, Brute?

March 13, 2023?

Dear Leaders,?

Beware the Ides of March.?Julius Caesar was one of the most imposing leaders in history.?Ruling the Roman Republic as a member of a triumvirate, he sought to unify his power through territorial expansion and eventually fighting a civil war to cement his rule.?He made many reforms along the way, but in his desire to rule ultimately and indefinitely, he made many enemies, and on March 15, 44 BC, they murdered him on the floor of the Roman Senate, being stabbed multiple times by those he considered to be colleagues.??

Back-stabbers are one of the greatest threats to leadership.?As you grow in stature and authority through effective and dedicated leadership, you will no doubt gain a following and a reputation.?While those who benefit from what you do will be appreciative, there are some of lesser talent or self-worth who will see you as a threat, and rather than rise to your level, they will seek to destroy you by hook or crook.??

I was an up-and-coming leader in a federal agency.?After many accomplishments, I thought I would receive a promotion to lead a new unit, but a headquarters colleague was given the job.? To say I wasn’t happy would be an understatement, yet I nonetheless welcomed my new boss, helped her to settle in, and supported her in establishing herself with our unit and the larger local organization.?As time went on, we worked well together, until she met someone with whom she was infatuated, and brought him in as a supervisor.?When a new higher position opened, he could suddenly do no wrong, and I could do nothing right.?The many little tasks I did on initiative went from being appreciated to a source of fault.?The grander strategic vision that I helped design was suddenly no longer mine.? Neither was the new position, as it went to the new favorite.??

While I’ll never claim to be the model employee, it was the talk of the town how I had been stabbed in the back.?It affected my morale and mental well-being to the point of poor health.?I realized though that I had to rise above it.?I stood up, pulled the figurative blade from my back, and went about my business with my head held high and diverted away from discussion of the situation and toward the unit’s mission.?As time went on, it was clear that I had the support of the people, a fact that rankled some of those above me, but from my perspective, it was about taking care of them and accomplishing the mission, so I retained my focus and eventually left for a new position where I was fully appreciated.??

Recovery from betrayal is never easy, and for some, it doesn’t happen.?You can cover the wounds, but the scars remain, and any incident or further encounter can rip them open again.?The ability to trust diminishes, and sometimes disappears.?Regardless of whatever pain you felt, you must not let it dictate your life or drag you down.?Self-victimization only makes it worse, and you must rise above it and remember that it is not a reflection on your talent and ability, but a negative reflection on the betrayer.?At first glance, that might seem like a small consolation, and the other party might have obtained something, but at a price that will be paid someday.?It is not to you to extract that price, for thoughts of revenge are only to your own detriment and will do more damage to you than anyone else.????

No matter how good you or your organization is, those who don’t wish you well will likely be there with active and passive measures to undermine your reputation and your authority.?So how do you avoid this minefield?? Above all, do not compromise on who you are as a leader and a person.? Maintain your integrity, take care of your people, and accomplish the mission through innovation and ingenuity as you always do.?Along the way, cultivate relationships with your people, your colleagues, your superiors, and your mission support crew, for knowing them and having them on your side it the best way to prevent someone from turning against you.??

As to those who seem to have it in for you, make the effort to find out why, and do your part to correct misunderstandings and mend relationships. ?In some cases, you can come to an understanding, and even gain a friend and ally.?Realize though that you can’t win over everyone, so don’t try to the point of banging your head against the wall, for it will only embolden your adversaries.?One more threat to always prepare for is the attack from your blindside, for when you least expect it, you will feel the cold steel plunging into you and not even realize that it was coming.?No matter how secure you feel, no matter how high you are riding, you must always watch your back.????

Julius Caesar gave us many things:?the Julian calendar, his name as a synonym for a strong ruler and the political philosophy related thereto, a great Shakespearian tragedy, and the Caesar salad.?OK, maybe not that last one, but he also gives us an example of how strong leadership that ruffles a few feathers or seems to be overbearing can result in a bad ending for you.?Regardless of whether you are overdoing it, dealing with those who seek to debase or eliminate you as a perceived threat to them can end in triumph or tragedy, and a necessary task of leadership is to work for triumph so as to not end in tragedy.?

Remember, thou art mortal.???

Sincerely,

Tim