We think the challenges we face as leaders are new and have never been seen before, forcing us to invent creative techniques to unleash the hidden talents of our people.
The Greek philosopher Epicurus wrote about leadership and the challenges faced by ancient managers as far back as 200 B.C. This ancient written work describes many of the same problems faced today and solutions they created. However, this story starts much further back.
The problems of leadership and managing resources start way back in the days where people lived as tribes and took shelter in caves and fought to stay alive. An error today may cost someone their job or millions of dollars to a company; millennia ago, errors cost you or your tribe its very existence. Let’s start from the beginning and observe the problems and solutions of the people who had to get it right the first time:
Chief Ugh woke up after a late night council of his elder, put on his fur robe and went out of his cave to survey area. He lived in the cave because it provided more protection than the simple huts that surrounded the area. Besides, with position come benefits. Chief Ugh was not born into the position of chief, or aim to assent the thrown; he was chosen by his people to lead them into the future. He looked around and saw what he had to work with.
Alerot, big and powerful, was the most skilled hunter and already out in the early morning looking to bring food back for his family to eat. An equal amount would be shared with the others. In his youth, he was known to have wrestled animals down with his bare hands. Charibert was following him at a distance trying to watch and learn the skills of an experienced hunter. He was a young member of the group. He had a lot of energy, somewhat clumsy and was willing to help, but was self conscience of his limitations. In his mind he would say, “I day I will be the head hunter, and then I will become chief”.
Noblete had a great amount of potential. He was a big strong man, though not as bulky as Alerot. He possessed great intellect to see things as they were and how they could be. He had the ability to develop great ideas to improve their lot and then implement the solutions. He also possessed the skill to bring the other members together to accomplish the projects that benefited all. One day he would ascend to level of king of the lower valley. Alerot was Noblete’s son and showed equal promise for the future.
Chief Ugh then looked over to the fire and saw several people simply sitting around. Brice a middle age man looked angry. He worked hard when he wanted, on projects that he wanted, and only hunted with average enthusiasm. Today, he was by the fire complaining that his son Felyse had gone into the cave and used flint and bone to carve pictures of animals and other scenes of the last great hunt on the walls. Brice had done poorly on the great hunt and did not like to be reminded of those days’ events. Now Brice’s wife was incensed because the images reminded her of her husband’s short comings, and so she took her anger out on him.
Richart was the person who tried to get along with everyone. He was very entertaining but got his chores done. Sometimes he would take the animal pelts and create scenes depicting how the animal lived and the valiant attempt they made to fight off the hunters. Once he placed an elks head over his and snuck up on Charibert. Unfortunately, he startled Charibert and he struck Richart on the side of the head with a piece of bear bone. Over time, Richart would develop the story’s that were passed down from generation to generation until at last they were written down.
Gillot was a negative person. He was quick to blame and slow to act. He enjoyed creating problems for others and attempted to bask in the glow of his own wretchedness. Natural selection would eventually remove this problem.
Together, these men and their families would become “The Tribe”. The leadership skills of Chief Ugh, later Noblete, and Alerot would be the basis of leadership training today.
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