Wear the Robe—But Lead with Conviction

Leadership comes with a robe of power. Relish neither the robe nor the power, relish instead the good you can do with it.

And you do no good to anyone if you spend your time as leader constantly second-guessing yourself.

If you are fortunate enough to be given the mantle of leadership, play the part with gusto and self-belief.

The American reviewer Eugene Field, Sr., commenting on an actor’s performance in “King Lear” once wrote: “Mr. Clarke played the King tonight as though under momentary apprehension that someone else was about to play the Ace.”

Don’t be that guy.

It is not humility to play the leader with a halting heart. Leadership is conviction or else it is vanity.