What You Can Learn About Leadership From Julius Caesar

The following is adapted from A CEO Only Does Three Things, by Trey Taylor.

To succeed as the chief executive of your organization, you have to be willing to follow models of great leadership. You may not be a history buff, but there is much to be learned from some of the greatest leaders the world has ever known. Love him or hate him, you cannot deny the tenacity and vision of Roman general and statesmen, Julius Caesar.

In 49 BC, Julius Caesar marched his army to the banks of the Rubicon, a small Italian river that marked the northern border of the Roman Republic. Caesar had spent nearly a decade away from his privileged place in the Eternal City conquering Gaul while extending Roman hegemony from Germany and the isle of Britain. By virtue of his success as a general, Caesar awaited the Senate’s award of a Triumph, the highest honor accorded to Roman citizens.

A Triumph provided a victorious general an unmatched forum for self-promotion and popularity with the Roman mob. At the end of a week-long celebration, the general mounted a gilded chariot, his face painted red and a crown of oak leaves on his head. As he rode down the Via Sacra, thronged with citizens shouting his praise, a lone slave stood behind him in the chariot repeating, “You are a man. You are no god. You serve Rome.”

A Triumph was the pinnacle of life for a Roman, and Caesar and his troops had earned it. But it was not to be. A Senate herald came to Caesar on the banks of the Rubicon, declaring: “Disband your army and proceed to Rome to answer charges against you in the Senate. Do not cross the River with your men under arms. There will be no Triumph for you or your army. You will not be allowed to stand for Consul.” The message ended with the incendiary phrase: “Fear this and tremblingly obey.”

Caesar dismissed the messenger with dignity and respect and promised an answer the following day at sunrise. The rest of the evening, he walked the banks of the Rubicon alone with his thoughts. When dawn broke, the messenger sought Caesar in his General’s tent only to discover that Caesar was supervising the army’s crossing of the river into Italy. Giving his answer to the messenger, Caesar called out “Alea jacta est!” or “The die is cast!” a phrase used by Roman soldiers to signal the beginning of a game. He then put spurs to his horse and crossed the river.

Caesar’s decision to cross the Rubicon appears logical. He was a victorious general returning home to claim the rewards that were now denied him. Who would stand against him? Who indeed!

On the other side of the river stood the full might of Rome, the most powerful state in the world. The Senate — the oldest, richest, and most powerful men of the Republic — united against Caesar. Rome’s most famous general, Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great), once Caesar’s son-in-law and political partner, led the opposition.

To crush Caesar, the Senate directed Pompey to raise an army of 130,000 soldiers. In contrast, Caesar had brought with him just one legion consisting of 5,000 men. But despite his enemies’ overwhelming advantage in both wealth and men, Caesar was able to draw upon an inner trait that neither Pompey nor the Senate possessed: decisiveness.

The Senate expected Caesar to send for reinforcements before advancing against the City. Rather than allowing his enemies to gain a numerical advantage that he had no chance of overcoming, Caesar entered Italy while the Senate was still debating its options and recruiting troops. Caesar’s speed and boldness shocked the Senate, and when his legion sounded the ram’s horn to announce its arrival in Rome, the Senate and Pompey fled to the countryside, eventually taking refuge in Egypt 1,500 miles away, leaving Caesar the undisputed master of Rome.

Was Caesar’s decision to cross the Rubicon an impulsive move that worked out thanks to a stroke of luck? Or was his audacity born of something deeper?

Caesar believed himself to be a man of fate. A Triumph was his right not only as a victorious general but as a distinguished member of the Julian clan, descended from gods and kings. To deny him this right was not only insulted his military accomplishments but his very identity.

Looking deep within, Caesar saw himself as one destined for greatness. Throughout his life, every action he took was a step toward achieving this goal. For Caesar, crossing the Rubicon and engaging those who would deny him his birthright was not only logical but preordained and inevitable.

Just like Caesar, we all have difficult decisions to make. Will the decisions you make reflect your personal beliefs and values? Will you become the CEO your company deserves?

The choice is yours. Choose wisely.

For more advice on becoming a legendary leader, you can find A CEO Only Does Three Things on Amazon.

Trey Taylor is the managing director of trinity | blue, a consultancy designed to provide executive coaching and strategic planning to C-Suite leaders. His experience derives from fields as diverse as technology, financial services, venture capital, and commercial real estate development. Frequently featured as a keynote speaker, he has addressed attendees at the Human Capital Institute, the Ascend Conference, and many other engagements. You can find out more about Taylor’s consulting work at trinity-blue.com.