This monumental painting portrays the aftermath of the shipwreck of the French frigate Medusa. It shows the survivors as they cling to a makeshift raft in the middle of the ocean. The shipwreck was caused by navigational errors and the incompetence of the ship's captain.
There’s despair in this painting. A state of collective fear and chaos. The captain’s failure has led to death. The survivors’ remaining time is spent only in awareness of the inevitable.. The more powerful the leader, the more dominoes fall.
Any legitimate leader is aware of this fact. You likely wake up with it as your first thought. And struggle to fall asleep at night while it becomes your last. You’re continually on the metaphorical raft, navigating a sea of troubles. Instead of a ship, you’re steering lives, careers, and destinies.
Yet, independent of whether you feel the burden or find a way to insulate yourself from the feeling, the math governs. More power, more consequence. Good and bad... With every promotion, with every increase in responsibility, the stakes get higher. You rise in the potential to affect lives..
Think also of the Peter Principle. You will rise to your level of incompetence.
Victory, victory, victory, until you don't.
You’ll become aware of this when you find yourself on your own 'Raft of Medusa.' Only a happy few avoid this. Those who do end up with a different problem - King Lear.
Every decision, every action you take as a leader, can either build or destroy. “The higher you climb, the farther you fall” as the adage goes - idiocy. Incomplete advice is pithy, and useless. Because it’s not just about you.