The leadership genius of Julius Caesar : modern lessons from the man who built an empire

The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar Modern Lessons from the Man Who Built an Empire “Brilliantly crafted to draw leadership lessons from history, this is one of the finest leadership books I have read.” —Doris Kearns Goodwin, bestselling author of Team of Rivals and The Bully Pulpit Leaders are always trying to get better, which is why there is an enormous and growing collection of literature offering the latest leadership paradigm or process. But sometimes the best way to move forward is to look back. Philip Barlag shows us that Julius Caesar is one of the most compelling leaders of the past to study—a man whose approach was surprisingly modern and extraordinarily effective. History is littered with leaders hopelessly out of touch with their people and ruthlessly pursuing their own ambitions or hedonistic whims. But Caesar, who rose from impoverished beginnings, proved by his words and deeds that he never saw himself as being above the average Roman citizen. And he had an amazing ability to generate loyalty, to turn enemies into allies and allies into devoted followers. Barlag uses dramatic and colorful incidents from Caesar's career—being held hostage by pirates, charging headlong alone into enemy lines, pardoning people he knew wanted him dead—to illustrate what Caesar can teach leaders today. Central to Barlag's argument is the distinction between force and power. Caesar avoided using brute force on his followers, understanding that fear never generates genuine loyalty. He exercised a power deeply rooted in his demonstrated personal integrity and his intuitive understanding of people's deepest needs and motivations. His supporters followed him because they wanted to, not because they were compelled to. Over 2,000 years after Caesar's death, this is still the kind of loyalty every leader wants to inspire. Barlag shows how anyone can learn to lead like Caesar. "Another book about Julius Caesar? He's already been the subject of countless books, as well as more than a few movies and at least one play. But although everybody acknowledges Caesar was one of history's greatest leaders, nobody has focused specifically on how he led. Why were so many people so intensely loyal to him? And more importantly, what lessons does Caesar have for leaders today? Phillip Barlag shows us that Caesar's leadership style was surprisingly modern. Unlike other leaders in his time (and, alas, in our time as well), he rarely used brute force to compel people to follow him, understanding that fear never generates genuine loyalty. He appealed to people's deepest psychological needs, not simply their sense of self-preservation, using what today we would call intrinsic motivation. He was famous for turning enemies into partners, realizing that a long-term alliance was much better than short-term vengeance. He led by inspiration, by example, never asking his followers to do something he wouldn't do. Coming from a noble yet impoverished family, he maintained a strong connection to the average citizen. People -- the Roman people -- really were his greatest asset. Barlag uses dramaatic and colorful incidents from Caesar's career -- being held hostage by pirates, charging headlong alone into enemy lines, pardoning people he knew wanted him dead -- to illustrate his leadership genius in all kinds of settings and situations. Sometimes the best way to move forward is to look back; with Phillip Barlag's help, anyone can lead like Caesar."--Jacket flap "Brilliantly crafted to draw leadership lessons from history, this is one of the finest leadership books I have read" (Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Team of Rivals ). Leaders are always trying to get better, but sometimes the best way to move forward is to look back. Philip Barlag shows us that Julius Caesar is one of the most compelling leaders of the past to study—a man whose approach was surprisingly modern and extraordinarily effective. Caesar proved by his words and deeds that he never considered himself above the average Roman citizen. He had an amazing ability to generate loyalty, to turn enemies into allies and allies into devoted followers. Barlag uses dramatic and colorful incidents from Caesar's career—being held hostage by pirates, charging alone into enemy lines, pardoning people he knew wanted him dead—to illustrate what Caesar can teach leaders today. Central to Barlag's argument is the distinction between force and power. Caesar avoided using brute force on his followers. Instead, he won their loyalty through personal integrity and understanding his people's needs and motivations. Thousands of years after Caesar's death, this is still the kind of loyalty every leader wants to inspire. Barlag uses dramatic and colorful incidents from Caesar's career--being held hostage by pirates, charging headlong alone into enemy lines, pardoning people he knew wanted him dead--to illustrate what Caesar can teach leaders today. Central to Barlag's argument is the distinction between force and power. Caesar avoided using brute force on his followers, understanding that fear never generates genuine loyalty. He exercised a power deeply rooted in his demonstrated personal integrity and his intuitive understanding of people's deepest needs and motivations. His supporters followed him because they wanted to, not because they were compelled to. Over 2,000 years after Caesar's death, this is still the kind of loyalty every leader wants to inspire. Barlag shows how anyone can learn to lead like Caesar --Publisher