Managers Manage; Leaders Influence

Lead like a gladiator.

by Vong Keovongsa

After graduating college, I landed my first management job as an assistant store manager at a little-known pet supply store named PetSmart. As assistant store manager, I was tasked with managing the store’s operations, including the cashiers, stock clerks and customer service representatives. My primary job function was to manage the people and the business operations’ day-to-day activities.

As my career progressed, I transitioned into senior leadership roles where I was no longer responsible for managing the organization’s people and processes. My duties shifted from being involved with the day-to-day functions of the business to one where I needed to be more focused on driving strategic initiatives by leading through influence and not by managing others. This article provides helpful tips on how to lead through influence and not from a position of authority.

Build a Rapport With Your Team

One of my all-time favorite action movies is Gladiator starring Russell Crowe, who plays the character Maximus, commander of the northern armies. In the opening battle scene, Maximus is on his horse, and he addresses his soldiers who are clearly nervous about the battle ahead. Rather than giving them a speech about how to be brave, he makes his soldiers all laugh by telling them not to be afraid because they are all already dead. He speaks facetiously, but the soldiers need to see that if their leader is not nervous about the battle ahead, why should they be afraid? By building rapport with his soldiers through humor, Maximus is able to help his soldiers feel more at ease about the difficult battle ahead.

Building a rapport with your team starts with showing them that you have their best interests at heart. It is also essential that you are authentic, and you do what you say you will do, even in difficult situations. Continuously working at building a rapport with your team by helping to serve in their best interests will make business battles much easier to overcome. Good leaders must first become good servants.

Unite and Create a Shared Vision

Shortly after helping his soldiers feel more at ease, Maximus proceeds to paint a picture of what it would be like for their family if they could win the battle. Their kids would run free. They would be able to grow their own crops and enjoy the freedom to live as they pleased. What Maximus wants to communicate is that the battle is not just for themselves but for the greater good of their country, their family and their fellow soldiers. The opposing troops begin to form across the battlefield, and after having his soldiers fully committed to the battle’s mission, he says the famous words, “At my command, unleash hell.” The soldiers charge forward screaming, swords raised high, and the battle begins. 

In today’s time, we may refer to this as a vision board, or a mission statement. Regardless of what it is called, you will be able to lead with greater influence if you unite and create a shared vision for the people you are responsible for leading.

Maintaining Authority While Offering Autonomy

Right before the battle begins, Maximus walks up to each of his lieutenants and heads of the various battle groups and simply asks, “Is everything ready?” Maximus maintains his authority, but he also trusts his key people in command. Lolly Daskal, founder and CEO of Lead From Within, says:

“The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority. Leaders must be close enough to relate to others but far enough ahead to motivate them. If you truly want people to respect you as a leader, you must prove to them they can thrive and survive, even with you.”

All too often, leaders begin to default back into micromanaging rather than trusting the people they have placed in charge. No one enjoys working for a micro manager. Being micromanaged is one of the top reasons why employees quit. Avoid the temptation to fall back into controlling processes and remain very committed to leading through influence.

Maximus charges onto the battlefield right along with his troops and, although the battle is ultimately lost, he gains the respect of his soldiers — so much so that many years later, when a few of his soldiers reunite with him when he becomes a gladiator, they are willing to risk their lives to save him. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” — John Quincy Adams