The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar: Modern Lessons from the Man Who Built an Empire
Ebook
Ebooks are designed for reading and have few connections to your library.
Overview
“Brilliantly crafted to draw leadership lessons from history, this is one of the finest leadership books I have read” (Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Team of Rivals).
Leaders are always trying to get better, but sometimes the best way to move forward is to look back. Philip Barlag shows us that Julius Caesar is one of the most compelling leaders of the past to study—a man whose approach was surprisingly modern and extraordinarily effective. Caesar proved by his words and deeds that he never considered himself above the average Roman citizen. He had an amazing ability to generate loyalty, to turn enemies into allies and allies into devoted followers.
Barlag uses dramatic and colorful incidents from Caesar’s career—being held hostage by pirates, charging alone into enemy lines, pardoning people he knew wanted him dead—to illustrate what Caesar can teach leaders today. Central to Barlag’s argument is the distinction between force and power. Caesar avoided using brute force on his followers. Instead, he won their loyalty through personal integrity and understanding his people’s needs and motivations. Thousands of years after Caesar’s death, this is still the kind of loyalty every leader wants to inspire.
Leaders are always trying to get better, but sometimes the best way to move forward is to look back. Philip Barlag shows us that Julius Caesar is one of the most compelling leaders of the past to study—a man whose approach was surprisingly modern and extraordinarily effective. Caesar proved by his words and deeds that he never considered himself above the average Roman citizen. He had an amazing ability to generate loyalty, to turn enemies into allies and allies into devoted followers.
Barlag uses dramatic and colorful incidents from Caesar’s career—being held hostage by pirates, charging alone into enemy lines, pardoning people he knew wanted him dead—to illustrate what Caesar can teach leaders today. Central to Barlag’s argument is the distinction between force and power. Caesar avoided using brute force on his followers. Instead, he won their loyalty through personal integrity and understanding his people’s needs and motivations. Thousands of years after Caesar’s death, this is still the kind of loyalty every leader wants to inspire.
“When we look to great leaders as role models, we often don’t look far enough back in the past. Julius Caesar was one of the most influential leaders in history, and Barlag shares timeless lessons that today’s leaders can use to build trust and drive change.”
—Adam Grant, Professor of Management, The Wharton School, and New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take
“Phillip Barlag captures in a creative way key leadership skills that transcend the passage of time. Caesar’s success was not accidental—it was grounded in some firm principles.”
—Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever
“The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar is an innovative and engaging read for all leaders. While drawing on events and people from the ancient world, the lessons and storytelling are relevant and timely now. Whether political, military, or business, any leader responsible for moving an organization forward—in times of prosperity or crisis—can benefit from its insight.”
—Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, 11th Secretary General, NATO
“Even as times change and technology progresses, the continual quest for enhancing our abilities remains the same. In The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar, Phillip Barlag highlights the lessons and insights from Caesar’s life and career to illuminate the qualities needed to guide any team toward greater loyalty, camaraderie, and success.”
—Keith Ferrazzi, author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Who’s Got Your Back and Never Eat Alone
—Adam Grant, Professor of Management, The Wharton School, and New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take
“Phillip Barlag captures in a creative way key leadership skills that transcend the passage of time. Caesar’s success was not accidental—it was grounded in some firm principles.”
—Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever
“The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar is an innovative and engaging read for all leaders. While drawing on events and people from the ancient world, the lessons and storytelling are relevant and timely now. Whether political, military, or business, any leader responsible for moving an organization forward—in times of prosperity or crisis—can benefit from its insight.”
—Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, 11th Secretary General, NATO
“Even as times change and technology progresses, the continual quest for enhancing our abilities remains the same. In The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar, Phillip Barlag highlights the lessons and insights from Caesar’s life and career to illuminate the qualities needed to guide any team toward greater loyalty, camaraderie, and success.”
—Keith Ferrazzi, author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Who’s Got Your Back and Never Eat Alone
- Title: The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar: Modern Lessons from the Man Who Built an Empire
- Author: Phillip Barlag
- Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
- Print Publication Date: 2022
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Pages: 144
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781626566958, 9781626566934, 1626566933, 162656695X
- Resource ID: LLS:9781626566958
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-21T09:25:17Z
Phillip Barlag is an executive director at World 50, which initiates and facilitates the most interesting and influential business conversations in the world. He has the enormous privilege of serving remarkable leaders from some of the most well-respected companies around the globe. His work explores the authentic nature of success and struggle in leadership. His writing has been published in Fast Company, MIT Sloan Management Review, and a number of influential business blogs. He lives in the Atlanta, Georgia, area with his wife and three children.