The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar: Modern Lessons from the Man Who Built an Empire

More about the book

"Another book about Julius Caesar? He's already been the subject of countless books, as well as more than a few movies and at least one play. But although everybody acknowledges Caesar was one of history's greatest leaders, nobody has focused specifically on how he led. Why were so many people so intensely loyal to him? And more importantly, what lessons does Caesar have for leaders today? Phillip Barlag shows us that Caesar's leadership style was surprisingly modern. Unlike other leaders in his time (and, alas, in our time as well), he rarely used brute force to compel people to follow him, understanding that fear never generates genuine loyalty. He appealed to people's deepest psychological needs, not simply their sense of self-preservation, using what today we would call intrinsic motivation. He was famous for turning enemies into partners, realizing that a long-term alliance was much better than short-term vengeance. He led by inspiration, by example, never asking his followers to do something he wouldn't do. Coming from a noble yet impoverished family, he maintained a strong connection to the average citizen. People -- the Roman people -- really were his greatest asset. Barlag uses dramaatic and colorful incidents from Caesar's career -- being held hostage by pirates, charging headlong alone into enemy lines, pardoning people he knew wanted him dead -- to illustrate his leadership genius in all kinds of settings and situations. Sometimes the best way to move forward is to look back; with Phillip Barlag's help, anyone can lead like Caesar."--Jacket flap