Much of the management and leadership literature focuses on how leaders can draw on their best selves to lead their teams and organizations. We authors want to provide the positive attributes as they apply to communication, motivation, inspiration and management itself. Doing so gives readers insights into taking positive steps.
One exception to this category is Barbara Kellerman of Harvard Kennedy School. Her work on leadership, notably Bad Leadership and her newest, Leadership from Bad to Worse, casts a sharp light on the malignancy that occurs when leaders allow their dark sides to dominate.
I can add another author to this list: Theophrastus, a philosopher who lived in the 4th Century B.C. A prolific author of poetry, plays and philosophy, his book Characters illuminates the factors that plague not only leaders but the whole human race. He writes about foibles and behaviors that can get us into trouble if we do not exercise the “better angels” as Lincoln counseled.
Behaviors to avoid
Let’s focus on a handful of the 28 character flaws Theophrastus explores.
Dissimulation is “the artful disguise of words and actions, which proceeds from a bad intention.” Deceit lies at the heart of dissimulation. Such behavior erodes trust, the foundation of good relations with others.
Flattery is the practice of using “words and actions … to catch men by their weak side, and so to ingratiate himself into their favor.” Today, we refer to such behavior as “sucking up,” and when we observe it in action, particularly at work, we often find it obnoxious, especially if the flatterer appears to have the boss’s ear.
Clownishness is “a want of knowledge in good breeding and common decency.” Bad manners, putting self before others and ignoring courtesies put one at odds with others.
Nastiness is “such a neglect of a man’s person as makes him offensive to others.” Such behavior makes it challenging to work with or even be in the company of such nasties.
Pride is “a contempt of everybody besides oneself self.” We all know pride to be self-destructive, but all too often, the proud person is also consumed by hubris and cannot see past his own ego.
Cowardice is “a dejection of mind, proceeds from a fear of danger.” Cowardice is the absence of bravery. While it is easy to denigrate those we deem cowardly, introspection reveals that we may all suffer from these traits, especially when the stakes are high.
Behaviors to emulate
Most of us (speaking for a friend, of course) can find traces of many of the negative behaviors mentioned above within ourselves. Acknowledging such deficits is the first step in overcoming them.
Our Founding Fathers, notably the young George Washington, were attentive to both good and bad behavior. As a young man, Washington handwrote the 110 Rules of Civility, which were formulated by 17th-century Jesuits. In this spirit, here are five questions to ask yourself about your behavior.
- How much energy do I expend in proving my point rather than listening to others?
- How well do I regard colleagues with whom I disagree?
- Why do I like to think of myself as being better than everyone else?
- How well did I pay attention to what my spouse told me this morning?
- What can I do better tomorrow and the day after to bring out the best in myself?
Knowing yourself is crucial to leading yourself effectively. Such self-knowledge focuses the mind on the behaviors we need to become the best version of ourselves. Accurate self-awareness is being aware of our shortcomings and the means we need to employ to stay on the right path.
Note: I want to acknowledge an essay by Joseph Epstein in the Wall Street Journal that brought Theophrastus to my attention.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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