The Daily Stoic – How To Be A Leader (According To Plutarch)

Intro

In this episode of “The Daily Stoic,” the focus is on leadership, drawing insights from Plutarch’s “How to Be a Leader.” The episode introduces the Daily Stoic Leadership Challenge, a 9-week deep dive into leadership according to the Stoics and other experts. Plutarch’s views on educated leadership, the role of self-governance, and the pursuit of virtue are explored. Listeners are encouraged to sign up for the Daily Stoic Leadership Challenge at dailystoic.com-lead before it starts on September 26th.

Main Takeaways

Plutarch’s Insights on Leadership

• A leader has to be willing to do anything, but they can’t do everything.
• Leaders must first achieve self-governance before governing others.
• Reason exists within leaders and guides their souls.
• Justice is the aim of the law, and law is the work of the leader.
• True leaders transform themselves into the likeness of God through virtue.

The Role of God in Leadership

• God is pleased with those who assimilate themselves to true beauty and benevolence.
• God is established on a holy pedestal, somewhere near nature that remains the same.
• God has established in cities the light of righteousness and His own reason.
• Reason developed through philosophy shapes individuals closer to the standard of goodness.

Leadership Attributes and Behaviors

• Leaders must be afraid on behalf of those they govern to keep them from harm.
• Kings are afraid for their subjects, while tyrants are afraid of their subjects.
• Political power combined with depravity can lead to harmful actions and improper desires.
• Punishments may come before formal accusations in the sphere of government.
• Vices of those in power are exposed when they are elevated to prominence.

Effective Leadership Practices

• Leaders should not try to do everything but focus on what is most important for their role.
• Sharing political power with trustworthy and skilled individuals leads to a more effective government.
• Politicians who take on tasks they are not suited for are more likely to fail and face criticism.
• Politicians should not allow real hostility or disagreements between themselves to persist.
• When the people are suspicious of an important proposal, politicians should have their friends openly disagree and then change sides to bring the people along with them.

Summary

Plutarch’s Insights on Leadership

Plutarch emphasizes that leaders should be willing to do anything necessary, but they cannot do everything themselves. Self-governance is crucial for effective leadership, as leaders must first master themselves before governing others. Reason serves as a guiding force within leaders, and justice is the ultimate aim of their work. By embodying virtue, true leaders transform themselves into the likeness of God.

The Role of God in Leadership

According to Plutarch, God is pleased with leaders who assimilate themselves to true beauty and benevolence. God’s presence is established on a holy pedestal, closely tied to unchanging nature. In cities, God has bestowed the light of righteousness and reason, which leaders should strive to uphold. Reason, developed through philosophy, helps shape leaders closer to the standard of goodness.

Leadership Attributes and Behaviors

Leaders must possess a healthy fear on behalf of those they govern, ensuring their protection from harm. While kings are afraid for their subjects’ well-being, tyrants are afraid of their subjects. Plutarch warns against the combination of political power and depravity, as it can lead to harmful actions and improper desires. Punishments may be administered before formal accusations in the realm of government, and the vices of those in power become exposed when they are elevated to prominence.

Effective Leadership Practices

Plutarch advises leaders not to try to do everything but instead focus on what is most important for their role. Sharing political power with trustworthy and skilled individuals leads to a more effective government. Politicians who take on tasks they are not suited for are more likely to fail and face criticism. It is essential for politicians to resolve real hostility or disagreements among themselves. When the people are skeptical of an important proposal, politicians should strategically have their friends openly disagree and then change sides to bring the people along with them.

Conclusion

In this episode, Plutarch’s insights on leadership are explored, highlighting the importance of self-governance, reason, and justice in effective leadership. The role of God in leadership is also emphasized, along with the need for leaders to possess certain attributes and exhibit specific behaviors. Lastly, effective leadership practices are discussed, emphasizing the importance of focusing on essential tasks, sharing power, and effectively managing disagreements. By incorporating these principles, leaders can strive to become more effective and impactful in their roles.