Keep this thought handy when you feel a fit of rage coming on—it isn’t manly to be enraged. Rather, gentleness and civility are more human, and therefore manlier. A real man doesn’t give way to anger and discontent, and such a person has strength, courage, and endurance—unlike the angry and complaining. The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength
Marcus Aurelius
This is the second in a series of posts that will aim to teach lesson from the Stoics that can help you be a better leader, even if that means just leading your own life. The first one outlined what and why leaders have been inspired by the Stoics. This is about keeping calm and making rational decisions. Read the others by clicking on the links below
After Julius Caesar was stabbed to death on the Ides of March, 15th, 44BC, the Roman Republic flowed away with Caesar’s blood and in its place was the Roman Empire, led by a one man, Octavian, who was Caesar’s nephew. Octavian returned to Rome from Apollonia, modern-day Albania, where he had been studying under the well respected Stoic Athenodorus at the time of his uncle death.
Athenodorus followed Octavian to Rome and was charge with developing in his mentee the mental and leadership qualities required for an Emperor. What was the essence of his lessons? A great leader should always keep calm and make rational decisions.
When Athenodorus finally left Rome and returned to Apollonia, he offered this final piece of advice to Octavian:
Whenever you feel yourself getting angry, Caesar, don’t say or do anything until you’ve repeated the 24 letters of the alphabet to yourself
It is a certainty that you will find yourself provoked by events in your life. You will find yourself in situations where you are tempted to lose control of your emotions.
You may be called upon to enforce rules. You may have to fire someone. You may have to punish someone.
You will need to deal with liars. You will be insulted. You will see a side of others you may not have known was there.
Most people feel uncomfortable and will shy away from these situations. Leaders like them. They love the feeling of power, often a little too much. Barrack Obama was one leader who was well-known for deliberation and being a rational decision-maker.
A person’s success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have
Timothy Ferriss, The 4 Hour Workweek, Expanded And Updated
Whether you do not mind confrontations and difficult conversations or not, I would recommend you heed Athenodorus’ advice about the necessity for rational thinking, and that of other notable stoics like Seneca, who studied Athenodorus and whose writings are the reasons we know much of his teachings. As Seneca reminds us:
“A punishment that’s delayed can still be imposed, but once imposed, it can’t be withdrawn.”
Seneca in ‘How to Keep Your Cool‘
This is the mark of a great leader and person. They are not rash. They do not rush in. They don’t let their emotions dictate their thinking.
You can not make something unsaid after you have uttered it, so think carefully before you speak. We can not wind back time so we must be cautious before we act. You should stall. Breathe. Recite the alphabet to yourself. Life is chaotic so our actions and words should be measured and purposeful.
Read more… Emotional Agility Is Important for Long Term Happiness, Health and Success
Chill The F* Out, Don’t Panic, Roll With The Punches and Get Ahead In Life
What Do All the World’s Greatest Leaders Have In Common?
Recognise Your Power: There is No Good or Bad Without Us, There is Only Perception
Make sure you’re not made ‘Emperor,’ avoid that imperial stain. It can happen to you, so keep yourself simple, good, pure, saintly, plain, a friend of justice, god-fearing, gracious, affectionate, and strong for your proper work. Fight to remain the person that philosophy wished to make you. Revere the gods, and look after each other. Life is short—the fruit of this life is a good character and acts for the common good
Marcus Aurelius
No random actions, none not based on underlying principles
Marcus Aurelius
It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters
Epictetus
Enjoy!
Scott
Source: https://dailystoic.com/leadership/