Impact of Leadership by Example

… or how important is the nature of the example that will yield the real leadership effect

Blunt sound of a woodchopping in a nearby forest was all Gaius Crastinus was able to hear in this early misty morning. Mist was still covering nearby meadow. Silhouettes, pulling large logs was all Gaius could see in the distance. But it wasn’t the woods, meadow or the men in the mist what was occupying his mind. Gaius was preoccupied with difficult thoughts that occupy man responsible for lives of many. This was difficult especially on this day. Day he knew many of his friends, and maybe even himself, will not see the end of. The day of the Battle of Alesia.

It is September 52 BC. Location is central Gaul (modern day France). Roman Army is besieging a leader of Gallic confederation (Vercingetorix) and his army. Romans are led by Julius Caesar.

Vercingetorix was an able leader that succeeded in unifying most of the Gallic tribes and put organized and fierce resistance against the world superpower of the time: Roman Republic (soon to be the Empire).

War has been dragging on for more than 6 years now. Many perished and the rest are tired and weary. But the final battle is about to begin.

Gaius Crastinus
Gaius Crastinus was a centurion in the Roman Army. Moreover, he was “primus pilus” (leading more than 500 men). He was the main centurion in the legion and his legion was Legion X Equestris (tenth legion, mounted). Caesar’s favorite legion. In today’s modern organizational corporate environment, he would be what we call “middle manager”.

Gaius’s Doubts
But’s let get back to Gaius’s thoughts. As big events and big battles are always about regular people. Their state of mind, their motivation and their life.

In this early morning, before the battle, Gaius Crastinus is troubled by his thoughts. He is asking himself what he is doing here; how did he end up in such dreary and faraway place? One of the earlier battles: Battle of Gergovia, left a mark of doubt in him. It was a battle that Romans lost. His friend Lucius Fabius, also a centurion of tenth legion, died in that attack. Caesar is even blaming Lucius for the loss of the battle. It wasn’t Lucius’s fault, Gaius knew it, he saw it.

And now, Gaius has the worst doubt one can have: he doubts his leader, he doubts Caesar.

And his doubts are compounding in a critical moment of the last battle.

Gaius is thinking that Caesar has become a selfish and narcissistic man, only blaming others for his own failure at Gergovia.

Is Caesar still the right man for the job? Can he trust his leadership? Can he trust him with his life and lives of his men? All those thoughts are troubling Gaius.

Gaius’s Leadership
Gaius was rather recently promoted to primus pilus. This is making him even more uncomfortable. Before promotion, he led only his own centuria. He knew all that was needed to be known about leading a centuria. His centuria was loyal to him and he knew each man since their recruitment. But now, adding all of these other centuriae to his leadership, is making Gaius very uncomfortable. There are some centuriae with artillery and other weapons he knows nothing about. He has to rely on these other centurions, and he needs to trust them. Trust them that they will protect his flanks, his back and follow him in case of a dangerous charge.

But trust is very scarce commodity around Gaius right now.

Prelude to the Battle
But there is not much to do, but to finish the defensive walls Gaius and his men were building.

Roman Army surrounded Vercingetorix and Romans built a wall around Gallic Army to ensure no supplies can get to Gauls. They decided to starve them out. But Vercingetorix was not a man that could be easily defeated. He sent messengers and called a relief army. The relief army was composed of many more Gallic tribes that were coming from all over Gaul. Now to surround Romans. The besieger is becoming besieged.

This is why Gaius and his men were busy building another wall to protect themselves from Gallic relief army. And Gauls were about to come any moment now and attack.

The Wall
While building the wall, Gaius noticed that one portion of the wall was not finished. However, there was no more time. He had to call his men to retreat into the walls they’ve built, as Gauls have come and it was a matter of a moment when they would attack. Their attack will be fierce, Gaius knew it.

The Battle
Moments after he was able to get the last of his men inside the walls, the “storm” of the battle started to approach. Hordes of screaming hairy warriors were approaching portion of the walls Gaius and his men were defending. The battle raged. All Gaius was thinking was the unfinished portion of the wall. He was hoping that Gauls would not see the weakness in the wall.

But his fears came true very fast. He realized Gallic commanders in the distance directing troops exactly towards the weakness in the wall. He took his best men and rushed towards the weak spot to defend it. He knew lives of his men depend on it.

He was joined by others and they held on. Gauls stormed this portion of the wall and they were just coming, more and more. It seemed like there was no end of them. Gaius and his men held on as long as they could. But the pressure from Gauls was too much. There were too many Gauls and rather few Romans defending that portion of the wall. Gaius felt left alone and adandoned. He felt that leaders (and especially Caesar) have betrayed them.

Gaius’s eyes were already filled with blood, sweat and dirt. He could not endure anymore. He succumbed and he was just waiting for that final blow. He thought that they were overwhelmed and that the end has come.

Through his blurry eyes, he saw a silhouette on the horse approaching towards him. It was approaching from the inner side of the wall. He thought that the wall has been breached and that they would all perish soon. The horseman was approaching. He closed his eyes and waited for the end.

Lead by Impactful and Sincere Example
But the horseman passed him. What happened? He opened his eyes and saw horseman charging towards Gauls, attacking them. He looked closer and recognized the horseman.

It was Caesar.

And as a magic, all of a sudden, feelings of hope, courage, resolution and even joy, replaced the feelings of desperation. Gaius realized that Caesar has not abandoned them. Moreover, he joined them. He joined them to share their destiny, whatever it would be. Now, Caesar was equally suffering Gallic blows of swords and arrows, bleeding together with them. Filled with these new feelings of courage and faith, Gaius screamed, took out his sword and led the charge following Caesar.

This new energy, the will and the resoluteness drove them to victory. The wall was protected, and Gauls eventually defeated.

Conclusion
There are many facets and levers of leadership. Very frequently we hear “lead by example” being one of the most important levers of leadership. But, with this story I try to point out that this leadership by example has to be real. We cannot expect that “fake” or “half heartened” example will help us to lead better. Contrarily, it will make things worse. People will realize not only that we do not live their troubles and pains but that we lie to them as well. In this story, Caesar put his life in real danger, he did not know how the charge would end. Soldiers realized this and he gained back their trust.

Leading by example is powerful — but it has to be real. Downsides and hardships have to be equally borne by leaders and by those who are led.