Eight virtues of gladiator leadership

Eight virtues

of gladiator leadership

Remember the

heart-pounding, soul-stirring message of last year's critically acclaimed

movie "Gladiator"?

Remember how

Maximus, the Russell Crowe character, rallied his men around him and led

them to victory, even in the face of almost certain defeat? Remember his

"envision the goal" technique for getting through the horrors

of battle? Now, consider the leadership in your own company. Any gladiators

in the ranks? Are you a gladiator?

The time is

right for a more heroic style of leadership. Desperate times lend themselves

to the rise of gladiators. Instead of seeing today's economy as a negative,

executives should view it as an opportunity in disguise a chance to position

your organization for the inevitable economic upswing. Here are eight

virtues of gladiator leadership.

Gladiators

have a mission for which they feel real passion. Call it a purpose, an

obsession, a calling: whatever the terminology, good leaders have a defining

mission in their life.

This mission,

above all other traits, separates managers from leaders. In "Gladiator,"

Maximus lived for the mission of killing the evil usurper Commodus and

restoring Rome to the values that made her great.

Gladiators

create a vision. Having and communicating a clear picture of a future

goal will lead to its achievement. Dare to think great!

Maximus helped

his fellow gladiators see that they could overthrow their enemies and

survive the horror of the battles they were forced to participate in.

In business, a leader may create an "enemy" the economy, the

competition, inefficiency to challenge the energies of his or her people

and give them something to fight for.

Gladiators

lead from the front they don't dictate from the back.

In the movie,

both when Maximus was a general and a gladiator, he fought up front where

the firestorm was heaviest. So does a good business leader. Working "in

the trenches" shows that you're not afraid to get your hands dirty.

It helps you fully understand the issues your "soldiers" are

facing, and inspires loyalty in your troops.

Gladiators

know there is strength in teams. Where would Maximus have been if he hadn't

trusted his men to fight with him and cover his back?

Likewise, where

would you be without your employees? While the gladiator leader has the

skills to draw people together, he doesn't hog the spotlight.

He has care

and compassion for his team and wants every member to be recognized for

his or her efforts. This is especially important in a time when the old

style "command and control" structure is waning.

Younger workers,

generations X and Y, tend to be loyal to their coworkers rather than the

traditional "organization."

Gladiators

encourage risk-taking. In the Roman Empire, gladiators were expected to

die with honor. Refusing to lie down and let one's opponents win was bucking

the status quo. And certainly, killing the reigning emperor however corrupt

simply was not done!

If a company

does not examine its way of doing things, if it does not push out its

boundaries, if it never makes mistakes, it may become road kill.

Gladiators

keep their heads in a crisis. Maximus had to think on his feet and refuse

to give in to terror and panic. He faced the most formidable foes calmly

and with focus.

Business leaders

must do the same. They must take a position and defend it when things

go awry. Being graceful and brave under fire is the surest way to build

credibility, a necessity for sound leadership.

Gladiators

don't retreat due to the slowing economy, but look for the opportunity

under their feet.

Gladiators

prepare for battle 24 hours a day. Essentially, a Roman gladiator was

a fighting machine. To stay alive, his mind had to be constantly on the

upcoming battle. Business leaders, likewise, must be obsessed with training

and developing their people in good times and bad.

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