Classical Leadership Lessons of a Caribbeanist.

He will rock you - Cyrus

In this week's module we examined a work by Xenophon called, The Education of Cyrus. In it, we looked at the various challenges of leadership that Cyrus faced and how he overcame these. This module was also a follow up from last week where we examined numismatics, particularly during the Hellenistic period, and were challenged to come up with a One-World currency ($). Now we have a chance to look at Cyrus and the ambition/problems/education/mentoring of global leaders. 

In the first module we reflected on the global leadership missions of three different institutions: Tufts University, Diana R. Garland School of Social Work [at Baylor University] and Howard University. Each had some differences, Howard being historically black and research intensive; Baylor took on a more Christian religion affiliation and Tufts mentioned a more anticipatory approach. These institutions were similar in many ways and sought to "develop" ethical, educationally informed global leaders to solve complex world problems. This is what each institution developed its students, the ability to understand complex global problems and to solve them.

This essence of this world-problem-solving-ability is what was examined in the Uniprez Socratic dialogue. Uniprez was training students (through staff, faculty and alumni) to have a large impact on the world (not a large bad impact, but a large good impact). The issue of a student being able to transfer (apply) his expertise in different areas for the cause of global leadership was interesting. Yet it seems we have global leaders of such diverse backgrounds and education I have to think that transfer-ability of leadership skills learned in one field is indeed an asset (as we have seen in a past common session with a classics degree being applied to business). I think leaders that have a background in different fields are better fitted to solving complex problems because they have a larger cross-section of knowledge available to them. Leaders with a vast knowledge in one field is better able to handle problems in that particular field because their knowledge is specialized. However I do think that little knowledge in a vast array of fields may not be as useful in problem solving as would a good knowledge in two or three fields, since the leader may not be able to connect all the dots between the differing fields since his education in them is too shallow.

At any rate, Cyrus' education proved valuable to him in his global leadership role;although he didn't rule the world, he came to dominate a large swath of the near east (modern day Iran). Being educated with the Meade and the Persians, he became a well-rounded person. Xenophon described in detail the educational system of the Persians and why they proved to be able to train global leaders, given that he described in great detail how hard it was to bring man into subjection and how easy it was for him to rebel against his leader, conspiring and despising. All this begged the question of why Cyrus was so good at leading and getting people to love and follow him. The point was raised sometime back in the semester whether leaders are born or made. The answer was discovered in this module to be consistent with the previous one, that some people may be born with some leadership qualities, but development and training is what makes one a great leader. Any inherent skills are an asset. Cyrus had both. 

The Persians had a peculiar government and social system, through its guidance Cyrus developed into a great leader and conqueror. He was said to have possessed with the following natural endowments:
Xenophon described the Persians as always being in subject to the laws of the land. He particularly mentions that because the younger men saw their elders in obedience to the law and this fostered in them obedience. The geography of Persia was set up that the cultured and those serving in government was separated from the rest of the populace. In the city the boys, aged under seventeen, were separated from the young men (17-27), who were separated from the mature men (27-53) who were separated from the elders (>50-53). 

The elders have charge over the young men and the youths are presided over by the mature men and so each group is governed. The boys go to school to learn justice. Trying cases among one another and meting out justice for acts such as ingratitude and shamelessness. They are taught self control and temperance by seeing those around them living modestly. The learn to master their hunger and thirst through drinking water and eating bread. And so it is in this way that each group among the males are divided up into their various tasks. The young men guard the city and surrender themselves to the disposal of the authorities for whatever purpose. They also hunt with the king and on these hunting expeditions they practice their archery and spear throwing. Preparations of war. They also further master their appetite and sometimes do not eat for whole days while hunting. Mature men go on military deployments while elders serve as advisers and counsels. 

I think all of these stages teach good leadership for the times that Cyrus was living in and the purpose and location of Persia. It teaches obedience (important in building a military), it builds ethics through the teaching of justice (important for global leadership) and temperance (allowing them to overcome their passion of food). 

Other exceptional traits include:
Cyrus while visiting Astyages (maternal grandfather) in Medea, learned different types of leadership skills. Xenophon described Cyrus as an affectionate and curious child. A sort of "kids say the darndest things" description of Cyrus at his grandfathers kingdom. what is interesting in this step of the module is that Xenophon captures perfectly some of the qualities we love about young children and also he describes the process of growing up, and becoming a "Sacas unto ourselves". We lose the ability to coax for what we want and have to develop different ways of negotiations, much like how Cyrus had to do when he wanted to go out hunting with his friends. In his grandfather's company, Cyrus developed a love of fine things, dressing up in makeup and jewelry, and eating in excess at his grandfathers table, much unlike what he would have been accustomed to while growing up in Persia. He learned to hunt wild beasts and even killed his first enemies. I believe the lessons he learned here were indeed different to those he would have learned with his father Cambyses, I don't think the excess of food and drink did anything to add to his leadership skills. But he did gain equestrian and hunting skills (military skills by extension) that would be essential for any global leader at that time.

But it would be the conversation that Cyrus has with his father Cambyses while leaving to go to the aid of Cyaxares where we see the culmination of instruction he would receive that would allow him to begin his quest of conquer. He learns various lessons, some even contradictory to what he was advised while growing up, but necessary for any successful military campaign. Lessons which tie back into what we learned of warfare from Clausewitz and Jomini back in the Julius Caesar module. Cambyses instructs Cyrus about the importance of logistics of war. Getting supplies to his troops, and always worrying about their welfare and health. He informs him to strike the enemy in the most opportune times, while asleep or unawares All these are the logical Jomini instruction. He also informs Cyrus about showing his army that he can endure more than through difficult times and tasks, that their courage may not falter when seeing their commander pressing on. He also says he must not lie to his troops so that they may always rely on his work and not be doubtful of whether he is telling the truth. This is the psychological Clausewitzian side of military theory, ensuring his troops moral is kept high. 

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Common Session Thursday 11/10 7-8pm
In this common session we listened to letters by various students from Howard U, Finlay U and others to the new president elect Donald Trump. Here is Mine:

Dear Mr. President Elect,

I congratulate you on winning the election. I believe this will change America for ever, whether for better or worse I believe only you can decide. You hold a high office, and I know you will have to learn much in a relatively short amount of time, so i hope surround yourself with those that have proven competent and ethical to help you. You have already said that you will be calling upon soon-to-be ex-president Barack Obama for advising so I believe you know what I mean. I pray that you will live up to the expectations of transparency and accountability that your supporters express of you and that through your actions and policies, you will transcend the opinions of doubt and regret held by those that didn't support you. I have attached a picture of us.

Yours Truly, 
Stone Cold


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