There is a maxim from Pubilius Syrus, a first century Syrian that shares, “Never promise more than you can perform.” Although this maxim was drafted over 2,000 years ago, it holds great wisdom and weight for us today. Leaders rise and fall by how well they understand and incorporate this idea into their lives.
Syrus, a slave, won his master’s favor by his wit and talent. One can assume he not only wrote messages-of-meaning, he lived them. Upon being freed, he served as a mime throughout Italy. He quickly gained notoriety and was invited to perform at events sponsored by Caesar, eventually winning a competition prize from Caesar himself. Although there must have been serious pressure to perform for these audiences, if he let on more than he could chew, he would have had a short-lived career. By being honest with what he could and could not do, he secured a successful career.
As leaders, we gain trust and strengthen our reputation when our spoken word matches our abilities. Knowing what we can accomplish and then following through on it is much better than reaching beyond our capabilities and falling short. By being honest with ourselves and with others about what can and cannot be performed we set ourselves up for leadership success.
In peace,
e: jkroll@goibelieve.com
Jonathan is an educator at Emerson College in Boston preparing for his PhD in the fall.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment