“Incompetence in leadership is no place for the old and weary.“
This is a theme I see in Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poems Ulysses and Charge of The Light Brigade. Although poems take place in different times – with different stories attached, the themes remain constant and palpable. These two works were recommended for a book club, and these two works are extremely prescient given the recent news on the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the ongoing messaging with COVID-19. My objective in this post is to mirror the words of Tennyson with some of the prescient issues we find ourselves in today.
As a preamble this is not a direct attack implicating President Joe Biden and only Joe Biden, as the incompetency in leadership does not rest on the shoulders of one man or woman. Also, old and weary is not to reflect the physical ideal; rather, the mental and ethical ideal around decision making. Leadership is not a role or a position, it is an action, an action that must be carried out by decisions made, have it be in the boardroom or on the battlefield.
The connection to war is profound in these works as Ulysses is reference to Odysseus (interchangeable with Ulysses) – hero of the Trojan War – on his journey back home. The Light Brigade of the British Infantry during the Crimean War and the unwinnable battle of lions led by donkey generals. First vision that comes to mind is how Tennyson uses imagery of the physical war to contrast with the war of living day-to-day and the battle one has with life. The changing tides of war, in a sea of unknown, presents a realization that goes beyond established norms.
Much have I seen and known; cities of men
And manners, climates, councils, governments,
Myself not least, but honour’d of them all;
And drunk delight of battle with my peers,
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy. (Ulysses)
Odysseus is somewhat enthralled with the feeling of battle with his compatriots; however, he sees the end of himself and his accomplishments in all that there were no monsters left to slay or conquer, except for the final monster of death that we cannot.
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends. (Ulysses)
The conflicting notion that the battle is won with nothing left to conquer, but the yearning for adventure is still there for Odysseus reflects an individual who cannot let go of this pursuit. Although the strive to achieve knowledge is admirable, this is seen as a criticism in Dante’s Inferno as Ulysses is sentenced to Hell for unrelenting pursuit and deception (Dante, 1971/1320). Similarities to the unrelenting notions of individuals unwilling to relinquish power given their need to strive and for that they see is the good, but for what they don’t see is gluttonous hoard of capacity.
Do you see this example today? Are Tennyson’s poems as prescient now as before? I would say there are clear connections and examples of incompetent leadership unwilling to hand over the reigns: mistake, after mistake, after mistake. Have it be someone like Biden, Trump, Obama, Bush with Afghanistan or other issues, decision making and leadership must be held in high regard and carried out through competent, rational, and critical minds. Leadership is the strive that is continual, but the leadership is only continual in its ideal, not through any particular vessel or personal ideology; thus, leadership is to be harnessed, used, and actionable towards more leadership, but needs to be relinquished when the time is right.
This of course blends into Charge of the Light Brigade, as it tells the story of the British Infantry charging into almost certain death of Russian forces due to poor planning and communication from high command.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Someone had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred. (Light Brigade)
The implications of incompetent leadership has deleterious effects in any situation where leadership is concerned. Not to mention, the problems around the ‘don’t reply, just do what you’re told’ motto presented by leaders with incompetence.
“Each of our countries have that independent spirit, and we don’t like being told what to do. Well, I understand that, but now is the time to do what you are told”. Regardless of what you think about COVID-19 and its detrimental effects on society. It is through an independent spirit where actions to alleviate hardships come from. In many ways it is a contradiction by leaders who on one hand want to strive for success, but not allow freedom, innovation, or ideas to come to the forefront, less they don’t merge with the proclivities of the leader. This has gone to a degree now when people are being forced to inject a medication. I trust the vaccinations for COVID work, but being forced to take a vaccine is immoral and an exact outgrowth of this kind of narrow and narcissistic thinking.
In the end, everyone reaches an end. The competency cannot last forever as the sands of time do not wait. Any leader – much like the great Ozymandias (Shelley, 1957/1818) – will become a shattered visage through time and all that is left is a mere memory of no substance. This should always be the threat of leadership and the incompetent members who foist it upon people. The objective is to be humble, to be reasonable, admit faults, keep independence, and ALWAYS ask questions. The critical knowledge and understanding of leadership itself, helps one become a better leader, unbitten by the poisonous viper of arrogance, ignorance, and narcissism.
References
Dante, A. (1971). Dante’s Inferno. (M. Musa, Trans.) Bloomington: Indiana University Press. (Originally Published in 1320).
Shelley, P. B. (1957). Ozymandias. (S. Dolin, Trans.), (Originally Published in 1818).
Tennyson, A. (1842). Ulysses. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45392/ulysses
Tennyson, A. (1854). Charge of the Light Brigade. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45319/the-charge-of-the-light-brigade
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