Leader

You’re being groomed for leadership, X – after all, you’re Head of Unit now. That’s what Cicero wanted. That’s why Cicero recruited you.

The irony is you’re the least likely of any of us to be a leader. You’re an unleader, X. You’re virtually silent, for one thing. You’re always on the periphery. Always skulking about on the margins. You never want to talk to anyone. You’ll do anything to avoid chit chat or small talk or indeed any talk. You’re never to be found. You show no leadership qualities whatsoever. In fact, the very opposite.

Which means your so-called leadership is a Cicero joke, a Cicero mockery. But hidden inside her jokes was often seriousness. Great seriousness! What are we to learn from you being appointed as leader?

 

You’re the worst leader, X. An underleader. Who leads by following! Who has nothing to say! Who is always writing in his notebook! Ostentatiously longhand. Writing all the time his mysterious Work. What is the Work, anyway? Read to us from your notebook. Edify us! Share some of your wisdom! We need inspiration!

 

You should be a mascot, not a leader, X. How are you going to stand up to the Organisational Managers in your various meetings? How are you going to advance the philosophical cause? Make a case for us? Voice our objections to pretty much everything?