Leading Without Grandiosity and Hubris
Yesterday I wrote about hubris in Avoiding The Pitfalls Of Hubris. In that post I spoke of the story of Icarus. Today, I am continuing to think about hubris and am reminded of a scene in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring where Boromir showed his hubris. In the great book, The Battle for Middle-earth: Tolkien’s Divine Design in The Lord of the Rings, Fleming Rutledge described the scene like this:
“Boromir is not the only one being fought over. Here in this scene, Frodo enters his greatest struggle thus far. He is not facing the Nazgûl; he is not facing the Orcs; he is not facing the Uruk-hai; he is facing only one person, a friend and ally, a valiant warrior of his own fraternity, a man with the same goals and the same Enemy. What he sees in Boromir, however, gives him insight that he did not have before. He sees grandiosity and hubris, the overweening self-importance that proves fatal in any created being. It is not Boromir’s reasoning that alerts Frodo to the danger of his proposal; it is Boromir’s pride. Frodo is thus able to resist when his much larger companion puts forth his seductive arguments” (The Fellowship of the Ring, p. 190).
Avoiding hubris involves cultivating self-awareness and humility. We need to encourage honest opinions from trusted colleagues, friends, or mentors to gain different perspectives on your actions and decisions. The scene with Boromir reminds us that everyone has limitations and that success is often a collective effort, not solely individual prowess.
To fight hubris we also need to stay curious and open-minded. We need to keep learning and be receptive to new ideas and constructive criticism. This helps prevent overconfidence in our current knowledge or abilities. Additionally, we need to reflect on and analyze previous errors to understand how overconfidence or arrogance may have contributed and learn from those experiences.
In The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo Baggins is surrounded by others with diverse perspectives. We need to engage with people from different backgrounds and viewpoints to challenge our assumptions. By practicing these habits, we can nurture humility, remain grounded, and make wiser, more balanced choices. Thus, helping to avoid the pitfalls of hubris.
Avoiding The Pitfalls Of Hubris
Yesterday, I got into a discussion with some teacher leaders about hubris. Hubris in leadership is that overbearing pride and excessive confidence that can cloud judgment and lead us to ignore warnings or ethical considerations. This arrogance often results in flawed decisions and potential downfall, highlighting the importance of humility and self-awareness in effective leadership.
When thinking about hubris I am always reminded of the story of Icarus. This Greek myth about a young man, Icarus, whose father, Daedalus, crafts wings made of feathers and wax to escape imprisonment. Despite warnings to avoid flying too close to the sun, Icarus becomes exhilarated by the sensation of flight and soars higher, but the heat melts the wax on his wings. As a result, he falls into the sea and drowns. I love this tale that serves as a cautionary lesson about the dangers of hubris and overambition, emphasizing the importance of heeding wise advice and recognizing our limits.
The story of Icarus offers valuable lessons for us as leaders about humility, caution, and self-awareness. Icarus’s fall teaches us that overconfidence and ignoring warnings can lead to downfall, especially when we become reckless or lose sight of our limits. We need to consider the importance of balancing ambition with prudence, listening to advisers, and recognizing the risks involved in bold decisions. The story also highlights the value of humility and understanding that hubris can cloud judgment, ultimately leading to failure. Embracing these lessons fosters more resilient, thoughtful, and responsible leadership.
Accepting Ambiguity Can Be A Form Of Wisdom
I love this statement by Gimli at the beginning of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Two Towers: “Maybe there is no right choice.” It reflects a profound theme about the complexity and ambiguity of moral and strategic decisions. It suggests that sometimes, situations are so nuanced that no option is clearly correct or ideal, and choices involve sacrifice, risk, or uncertainty. Growth often comes from navigating these tough choices, and that accepting ambiguity can be a form of wisdom.
I also believe this reflects a perspective that is a valuable and underused approach in teaching and parenting our children as well. Teaching children that sometimes there isn’t a perfect or clearly right answer, but rather the best choice given the situation, helps them develop critical thinking and resilience. We need to encourage our kids to weigh their options, consider the consequences, and accept that uncertainty is a natural part of decision-making. By modeling and guiding them through these ambiguous situations, we foster adaptability, courage, and confidence in their ability to navigate life’s challenges. It’s about helping them understand that making thoughtful decisions amidst uncertainty is a skill worth cultivating.
Gimli’s statement is a good reminder that in difficult circumstances, leaders and individuals may need to accept that perfection isn’t always attainable. It emphasizes the importance of making the best possible decision with the information available, even if it’s inherently imperfect. Gimli’s words highlight the human experience of facing difficult dilemmas where clarity is lacking, encouraging resilience, adaptability, and courage in the face of uncertainty.
Readiness Is A Decision
Readiness is not a feeling, it is a decision. I really do believe this. What I mean is that being prepared or ready for something isn’t just about how you feel internally, it is about consciously choosing to prepare yourself and take action. Or being okay with maybe not be fully ready. It emphasizes that readiness comes from deliberate choices and commitment, rather than waiting for a certain mood or emotional state.
As leaders, we can use the idea that readiness as a conscious choice and mindset to foster a culture of proactive preparedness within our teams. We need to model our own commitment to being ready by planning ahead, staying informed, and showing resilience. This sets a standard for others to follow.
We also need to set aside time for strategic thinking, skill development, and anticipating future challenges. This means promoting the idea that readiness is about continuous learning and effort. When we all view preparedness as an ongoing process, it inspires others to develop ownership over their readiness.
Leaders must also provide resources, training, and opportunities that make it easier for others to prepare and stay ready. It is important to recognize and reward proactive behaviors. We all must understand that being ready doesn’t mean having all answers but being adaptable and resilient when opportunities, new experiences, and surprises occur.
By framing readiness as a deliberate, intentional action rather than just a spontaneous feeling, we empower ourselves and those we influence to be more proactive, resilient, and ultimately more effective in navigating whatever challenges come our way.
Agency Before Ownership
Today, when working with educational leaders, I was reminded that we can’t feel ownership if we don’t have agency. I believe that in order to genuinely feel that something belongs to us or that we are responsible for it, we need to have the ability or power to make choices and act freely. This is what we call “agency.” Without agency, even if we possess or are associated with something, we will probably not truly feel a sense of control or personal connection to it. Having the ability to influence or decide is essential for developing a feeling of ownership.
Don’t Judge What You Don’t Know
The other day I heard a person tell someone “Don’t go judging what you don’t know.” The phrase was a reminder that we should avoid forming opinions or making judgments about someone or a situation without having enough information or understanding. It encourages humility and open-mindedness, reminding us that it’s unfair and often inaccurate to judge others based solely on assumptions or incomplete knowledge. Instead, it’s better to seek understanding and gather facts before arriving at any conclusions.
This also reminded me of something I say a lot: “Don’t guess. Ask.” Many times we guess when we need to ask. In fact I discuss a lot that we need to ask not guess. Many times providing the wrong things is worse than nothing at all because it proves you have not taken the time to get to know those you serve, or their needs. If we are serious about building relationships, ask, don’t assume.
Who Keeps You In Your Place?
I love the television medical drama series, House. The show ran from 2004 to 2012 and starred Hugh Laurie as the protagonist Dr. Gregory House. Dr. House was a genius diagnostician who led a team of doctors diagnosing some of the toughest case. I am on a bing of watching all the episodes. One bit of context for those who haven’t seen the show (which I recommend doing, by the way) is that Dr. House is brilliant but misanthropic diagnostician who solves complex medical cases with unorthodox methods and a sharp wit. Despite his abrasive demeanor and personal struggles, he is deeply committed to uncovering the truth to save his patients’ lives.
In one of the episodes I watched last week, Dr. Allison Cameron had quit due to a lot of different circumstances and Dr. House had stopped by apartment to attempt to get her to come back to work with House’s team. What Dr. House said was, I thought very profound. He said, “I need you around to keep me in my place.” Think about it; we all need someone like that in our lives. Some of us, me for example, more than others.
When Dr. House said to Dr. Cameron, “I need you around to keep me in my place,” he highlighted the valuable role that colleagues and friends can play in keeping us grounded. Despite his abrasive and often self-centered demeanor, Dr. House recognized that he benefited from the perspective, honesty, and sometimes gentle (or not so gentle) reminders from those who care about him. It underscored the idea that even the most brilliant and confident individuals need others to help maintain humility, provide balance, and prevent us from becoming too isolated or making reckless decisions.
It’s a reminder of the importance of teamwork, humility, and the human connections that help us stay true to ourselves while pursuing our goals. Who keeps you in your place? In fact, let’s think about thanking those people who do that for us. And are there others we should ask to help keep us in our place?
Who Will Carry On The Story?
There is a wonderful quote The Fellowship of the Ring from Bilbo talking to Frodo. “Don’t adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story. Well, it can’t be helped.” This reveals a lot that we can take away about the nature of stories, adventures, and life itself. We can learn several meaningful lessons.
Just as Bilbo recognizes that adventures never truly end because new ones always begin, our lives are continuous stories filled with ongoing challenges, growth, and discovery. No matter how much we accomplish, there’s always more to explore and learn.
Bilbo’s acknowledgment that someone else has to carry on the story highlights the importance of accepting change and trusting that the next person will step up when it’s their turn. It reminds us that life is a collective story where each person plays a part.
The idea that the story continues suggested a sense of responsibility to pass on what we’ve learned, whether through our actions, values, or contributions, so that others can carry the torch forward. This makes me think about our legacy.
Recognizing that adventures and life’s journeys don’t have definitive ends encourages resilience. Even when one chapter closes, another begins, and we have the capacity to face new challenges with hope and courage.
Leading By Remaining Grounded
I love Bilbo Baggins’s poem known as the “Riddle of Strider”: “All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken: The crownless again shall be king.” This poem is in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. I posted about this poem back in January in Don’t Let the Lack of Glitter Fool You: Uncovering True Value Beyond the Shine. I am rereading The Fellowship of the Ring right now and when I came across the poem again the phrase, “Deep roots are not reached by the frost” really jumped out at me.
When Bilbo says, “Deep roots are not reached by the frost,” he’s using a metaphor to convey resilience and strength. The idea is that something with deep roots, like a sturdy tree, can withstand harsh conditions, such as frost or storms, because its foundation is strong and well-anchored.
The lesson suggested by Bilbo is that true strength and stability come from inner qualities, core values, or deeply-held beliefs. No matter how challenging external circumstances become, those with ‘deep roots’ can endure and remain grounded.
Leading With Purpose
In The Fellowship of the Ring, Bilbo Baggins said, “I have called you all together for a Purpose” in his birthday speech. The narrator of the story went on to tell us, “Something in the way that he said this made an impression.” J. R. R. Tolkien’s making Bilbo’s mention of “Purpose” with a capital ‘P’ reflected a grand, almost cosmic significance. Tolkien was planting an overarching destiny or meaning that Bilbo perceived guiding his life and actions. Conversely, his personal idea of purpose as something diminutive suggested a more humble, intimate understanding of purpose.
From this contrast, we can learn that our sense of purpose can operate on different levels. The grand Purpose can inspire us with a sense of connection to something larger than ourselves, offering a sense of importance and direction. Meanwhile, the diminutive purpose reminds us that meaningfulness can also be found in everyday acts, personal growth, and small contributions. Both perspectives are valuable: embracing the grand Purpose can motivate us towards long-term visions, while appreciating the diminutive purpose keeps us grounded and present.
Reflecting on Bilbo’s perspective encourages us to find balance by honoring larger meanings without neglecting the small, personal purposes that give daily life its richness.
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