“…his willingness to yield the floor to experts—in oratory, law, psychology, whatever—and to support them energetically, so that each of them could fulfil his potential.”
Aurelius learned from his step-father, Antoninus Pius, to not be afraid of entrusting others and championing their abilities. This is instructive for men without fathers who are notoriously self-reliant and naturally dubious of delegating authority to others, especially men.
But in this teaching is a hidden secret, namely judgement: Weighing if those people merit your hard-earned trust. Once and if they make the cut, you should “support them energetically,” and then embrace the new knowledge and advice the group conspire.
In business, managers call this process, ‘hiring people better than you’. It appears as humility when it is a stridently capitalist move with the sole aim of producing a show-stopping dream team.
So we have to relegate our pride and self-reliance superpower, just a little, and only on occasion, to allow others into our inner circle. If they are exceptional at what they do and display integrity and honour, then they’ll inevitably swell the tide to raise all boats, including yours.
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