Leadership, as much as love, preoccupied Shakespeare in his dramatic writings – most probably because the precarious state of Protestant England desperately needed good leadership to keep it safe from military attacks from abroad, and civil strife at home.
Interestingly, Shakespeare did not romanticise leadership as some wondrous quality of an idealised character. Instead, he drew from historical accounts of who had led well and who poorly, and developed an instructive conception of what would make a leader we should follow (and what should ring alarm bells).
Let us start with the negative things we should look out for. For Shakespeare, the key problem is character weakness – the inability to hold true to what one has good reasons to commit oneself to. Lear might have been a good leader once, but with age, he became prone to losing his temper, falling for flattery, and handing over power to those who were the last people he should trust. Othello was widely recognised as a noble and effective military leader, yet his susceptibility to jealousy opened him to easy deception by Iago, and he was all too ready to condemn Desdemona to death without checking out accusations with due attention. Macbeth was a loyal, respected warrior until obsessive ambition turned him into a usurper of the throne and murderer of children.
More illustrations are to be found with Hamlet, whose indecisiveness over what he should do for the sake of his family and country meant all was lost in the end; with Brutus, whose naïve reluctance to deal resolutely with Caesar’s supporter, Antony, as he did with Caesar himself, resulted in his failure to save the Roman republic; and Coriolanus, whose arrogance in thinking it beneath him to seek to engage the hearts and minds of the people in securing political power led to his humiliating downfall.
By contrast, good leadership is exemplified by a steadfastness in judging matters judiciously, forming plans with a careful understanding of what others are thinking, and executing them with resolve. Look at how Octavius was presented in Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra – calmly, quietly, he plotted his course to form tactical alliances and corner enemies. Ever focused on securing the support he needed to move towards his goal, he was the master of his emotions, never the other way round. Similarly, Prince Hal showed that to be serious in becoming a good leader as he ascended the throne as Henry V, he jettisoned his youthful rowdy sentiments and committed to exercising his duties with unwavering dedication. Importantly, for both Hal and Octavius, they did not hesitate to part ways from people who were once close to them but could no longer be trusted (in the case of Falstaff and Antony respectively).
Good leadership is not just a matter for kings and emperors either. Portia is undoubtedly the most impressive character in The Merchant of Venice for her composure, clear thinking, and ability to take charge of the most challenging situations. Whether it was dealing with the suitors to her (and her inherited fortune), providing a haven to an eloping couple, or using her legal skills to save the life of the seemingly doomed merchant, Portia would navigate her way forward in a calm and informed manner, even as others felt there was no hope.
Under very different circumstances, Rosalind – in As You Like It – was banished with nothing but her wits to live on, and as she ventured into a land of strangers, swiftly took charge of every tricky situation that arose. Her ability to inspire confidence, to manage other people’s misunderstanding, and to bring about satisfactory outcomes renders her a natural leader others will follow. But lest we think it is charm and humour that hold the key, we should remember Paulina from The Winter’s Tale. She saw through the king’s absurd accusation against the queen, resolutely stood up for her, and guided the king through years of penance back to a possible reconciliation. Dour and firm, Paulina was another exemplar of leadership as determination informed by evidential assessment.
To lead well – Shakespeare tells us – keep in mind the concerns of others as well as those of one’s own, do not let emotions run wild, shun fears and temptations, check serious claims scrupulously, focus on the desirable outcomes, and act with clear resolve.
Prithee render these essential requirements for every politician and CEO.
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