SHAKESPEARE’S PORTRAYAL OF LEADERSHIP LESSONS|

Shakespeare, arguably the most celebrated playwright of all times, has designed some of the best leadership lessons through his characters. He not only captured the spirit of his times, but he also forecasted the future, by depicting the most inherent traits of a leader, follower, and also of people relationships in our society irrespective of geographies, languages, sentiments, or emotions. Some of the Hollywood and Bollywood successful themes are still played around the same Elizabethan playhouse dramas. Presenting blood, bawdiness, passion, treachery, betrayal, and politics echoed down through the centuries. His writing has been translated into 100+ languages, and still shapes the way we think and speak today. Shakespeare’s timeless writing had dealt with the ambiguity by immersing one self into feelings and moral judgment of the audience dissecting the characters for betraying their responsibilities as a leader.

Though not in the ideal sense, we can still derive some leadership lessons from his characters and how they engage with their life situations. Most of the protagonists are lessons for the worst that can happen if one falls from the pedestal of true leadership. The 6 lessons from some of the characters in Shakespearean plays are :

1. Morality is more valued than Ambition – Your growth shouldn’t cost the life and wellbeing of others. Macbeth is a parable on what happens when a man’s ambition outstrips his better instincts. In his soliloquy, the nobleman Macbeth wrestles with his conscience as he ponders whether to kill the king, Duncan and seize the throne for himself. However, the ambition journey cost him his sanity and eventually his life. In the end, Macbeth’s severed head is brought to Malcolm by Macduff, as proof that Macbeth has been overthrown and that Scotland is now Malcolm’s to rule. Thus the evil side is finally vanquished. As leaders, it’s important to understand that ambition is not the be-all and end-all, as the balance sheet of life is larger than just one transaction. There are several unknown events to follow which could be the turn of destiny and the final balancing of the profit & loss account.

2. Sweet-talkers may not actually be sweet – Many leaders enjoy being surrounded by yes clan who would pride themselves on knowing everything at all times. King Lear suffers after allocating his biggest assets to the sweet-talkers who eventually bully him. Cordelia who denies the complimenting spree is ousted. Leaders need the awkward, principled people who will say no – or in this case, nothing – even when it’s in their interests to say yes. Naturally, as King Lear is a tragedy, he discovers the worth of his one good daughter too late. If you want to be wise, watch out before you penalize the black hat guy who is critical of your judgment as the sycophants might backfire.

3. Inaction is Toxic –  Decisions made at the right time can save many opportunities from being lost. A leader who suffers from a dilemma can lead the team astray and eventually sabotage many stakeholders. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is young, spirited, influential, in love, and yet totally incapable of making a decision. If your client escalation is not solved on time it can impact the client-your team and you… Hamlet likewise suffered indecision while dealing with his hallucinations, the reality of his uncle. His ponderous response to the phantom’s revelation ultimately led to the suspected suicide of his sweetheart Ophelia and a comprehensive bout of untimely deaths at the Danish court. Hamlet had to pay with his life for his inaction and delay in decision-making. Sometimes it is important to take strong decisions, even if you rock the boat.

4. Delivering Impactful Speech– You are as good as your team, however, you need to be prepared with the right address to form the most motivated team who are all focused on a larger vision of togetherness while crossing the finish line. Henry V’s speech before and after the Battle of Agincourt, led terrified troops into battle against the nefarious French. Impacting the team during the hour of crisis towards the immediate goal needs a lion’s heart and courage to get the team as a single entity. Shakespeare immortalized Henry V with his memorable “band of brothers” speech, which is a worthy trait to be emulated as great practice as a leader. Next time you are in a town hall in a situation of panic due to the new contingencies, you need to become the wordsmith with passion & valor.

5. Being Understanding and Merciful – No matter where you are in life, being understanding has undeniable benefits. Time is not always the same and karma truly comes around. in unpredictable ways to haunt you. Whether things are going up or down being sensitive to others is the least we can do as fellow social beings. …. Just because you’re in the right, it doesn’t mean you need to extract your “pound of flesh.” This is just one of the many metaphors that have entered common usage from Shakespeare’s plays; in this case, The Merchant of Venice. Shylock’s character is the brutal revenge orientation that collapses when the wellbeing of all needs to be evaluated.

6. Attention to Gossip could ruin your heavenly abode – While being aware of the grapevine is needed, too much attention to gossip could destroy your flow state in life. Whether it is decisions in difficult times or appraisals that went sour etc. True that an assessment psyche has more the tinge of failure, anxiety, and remorse but does it really need to be so negative… Shakespeare’s Othello is a perfect example of this, who had a dedicated beloved Desdemona; until he started listening to scurrilous gossip-monger. Othello eventually smothers her to death, learns that she was innocent all along, then commits suicide. Before you commit career suicide, watch your actions and your back: check the source and more importantly the motivation behind rumors.

These are a few lessons from the many that are documented and cherished! Which ones do you relate to? What do you think you can practice for honing your skills further? What is your opinion about these characters? What do you think contributes to their outcomes? Do share with us if you can relate to any historical or Shakespearean character who gives lessons we could learn from?