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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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How to Be a Leader summary
Plutarch
An Ancient Guide to Wise Leadership
20 mins
Brief summary
"How to Be a Leader" by Plutarch offers timeless leadership lessons from ancient Greek and Roman history. It provides insights and examples on how to cultivate virtues such as justice, patience, and self-control to become a successful and respected leader.
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How to Be a Leader
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
You should want to lead for the right reasons.
In any given society or institution, you’re likely to encounter a lot of people who want to lead.
The idea of directing others, or of playing an important role in community affairs, seems to appeal to something deep and instinctive within us. And yet, our underlying motivations – the reasons we want to lead – often differ from person to person.
Some people want to lead because they can’t stand taking orders. Others just want to pass the time. If you find yourself drawn to leadership roles, stop for a moment and consider your real motivations.
The key message here is: You should want to lead for the right reasons.
The decision to lead should never be taken lightly.
In Plutarch’s world, the most important political unit was the polis, or city-state. Although some orders came from Rome, the imperial capital, many decisions were still made within the polis in the first century CE. That meant that electing capable, motivated officials to positions of power was of great importance.
But what was it best for such leaders to be motivated by? And what forms of motivation were undesirable?
Well, according to Plutarch, the budding leader should be motivated by a sense of duty and honor – but not an excessive desire for glory and public acclaim.
Why not? Because politicians who are motivated by glory make for tumultuous and unstable societies. Instead of making rational and moderate decisions, leaders grow reckless in their pursuit of fame, and act rashly – often to the detriment of the cities they’re meant to be serving.
Plutarch chose a Roman politician named Cato the Elder as an example of true leadership. When the citizens of Rome wanted to erect a statue in his honor, Cato refused; he said he’d rather have people asking why there was no statue of him than asking why there was one.
Unlike other, self-aggrandizing politicians, Cato was motivated by the welfare of Rome – not by the desire to improve his own reputation. That’s an attitude that all leaders should emulate.
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What is How to Be a Leader about?
How to Be a Leader is an ancient guide to effective leadership. Blending pragmatic advice with historical anecdotes and political history, it lays out a timeless vision of the qualities all great leaders have in common.
How to Be a Leader Review
How to Be a Leader is an insightful book by Plutarch that explores the qualities and practices of successful leaders throughout history. Here's why this book is definitely worth a read:
- It offers practical advice on leadership, providing readers with actionable strategies to become effective leaders themselves.
- Examining the lives of influential leaders from different eras, it presents a fascinating and diverse range of leadership styles and approaches.
- The book delves into the psychology and mindset of leaders, shedding light on what makes them successful and inspiring readers to develop similar qualities.
Best quote from How to Be a Leader
Leaders, in fact, must be more afraid of inflicting harm than of suffering harm themselves.
—Plutarch
Who should read How to Be a Leader?
- Aspiring politicians and the civil leaders of tomorrow
- History nerds interested in the ancient world
- Aging leaders wondering whether to throw in the towel
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How to Be a Leader FAQs
What is the main message of How to Be a Leader?
The main message of How to Be a Leader is that anyone can become a great leader by learning from the examples of historical figures.
How long does it take to read How to Be a Leader?
The reading time for How to Be a Leader varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is How to Be a Leader a good book? Is it worth reading?
How to Be a Leader is a valuable read for anyone interested in leadership. It offers timeless wisdom and practical insights from Plutarch's biographies of influential leaders.
Who is the author of How to Be a Leader?
The author of How to Be a Leader is Plutarch.
What to read after How to Be a Leader?
If you're wondering what to read next after How to Be a Leader, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Happiness by Darrin M. McMahon
- How to Be a Positive Leader by Jane E. Dutton & Gretchen M. Spreitzer
- Madness and Civilization by Michel Foucault
- The Effective Executive by Peter F. Drucker
- The Republic by Plato
- The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
- The Essential Drucker by Peter F. Drucker
- Discipline & Punish by Michel Foucault
- The Ethics of Ambiguity by Simone de Beauvoir
- Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz