How can an ancient Roman Emperor support, challenge and provoke your thinking as an aspiring police promotion candidate? My latest premium podcast episode (S5 E30) focuses on transferable leadership issues from Marcus Aurelius’s writings and stoic philosophy. Here’s a free intro:
“It’s silly to try to escape other people’s faults. They are inescapable. Just try to escape your own.”
None of what he wrote was ever intended for publication. But today, you as an aspiring leader can access the private thoughts of the most powerful man in the world at the time.
These include his observations and reflections on timeless issues like human nature, life and death. Meditations is the definitive text on self-discipline, personal ethics, humility, self-actualisation and mental strength. I hope you enjoy it.
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius Antonius (121–180 AD) was a Roman emperor and philosopher, best known as one of the most important figures of Stoicism – a philosophy focused on virtue, self-control, and rationality as the path to a good life. His notes, penned 18 centuries ago whilst Rome was at the zenith of its power, are known to us today as Meditations.
‘Meditations’ reflects the personal journal of Marcus Aurelius, as a compilation of his notes written during his military campaigns between roughly 170 and 180 AD. It offers great insights into Stoic philosophy that emphasise virtue, reason, and acceptance of what is beyond our control.
Here’s a great little example punching through time like a pilum:
“Is my intellect up to this? If so, then I’ll put it to work… And, if it isn’t, I’ll turn the job over to someone who can do better – unless I have no choice. Or, I do the best I can with it and collaborate with whoever can make use of it, to do what the community needs done.”
What relevance does it have to your police leadership today? The essence of this passage is Stoic practicality and humility:
- Assess your own abilities honestly (self-awareness).
- Delegate or cooperate when others can do better (understanding others).
- Always act for the common good rather than personal pride (public service).
Marcus often reminded himself that his intellect was a tool for service, not for ego. What mattered was contributing to the well-being of the community in whatever capacity he could.
My personal copy of Meditations is the translation by Gregory Hays: ‘Living, Dying and the Good Life’. As you’ll see below, it’s one of my most treasured books, plastered with sticky tabs, written all over, and with particularly inspiring quotes highlighted.
I believe Meditations is a meaningful CPD resource to support your thinking and approach to developing yourself as a leader. I’ve had my copy quite a while, using it as a resource to help consider my own life, reflecting upon some of Marcus’s notes about living a good life, being a good person and contemplating what that means.
What does it mean to you?
More Leadership Lessons
“The world is nothing but change. Our life is only perception.”
Meditations is a timeless work, a personal journal and spiritual diary. Much of what Marcus Aurelius wrote could have been written yesterday. I believe it is directly transferable to our own lives and challenges.
Some observations are simply one line reflections. Others pose deeper questions many of us ponder today. For example:
- How can I get to know myself better? Self-reflection.
- What does it mean to be a good person? How do I get there?
- Life is short: what does that mean for me? What do I prioritise?
Marcus Aurelius’s work is about how to live a better life. Nearly two thousand years later it can still serve as an inspirational guide to help navigate the VUCA policing world of today.
The importance of living according to shared values, being a role model for others, duty, continuous learning, responsibility, kindness, emotional awareness, compassion, decision making, etc., are all issues which feature or are assessed in promotion selection processes.
So why not try integrating some of Marcus Aurelius’s timeless teachings and stoic wisdom into your own leadership skills and resilience?
Kind Regards, Steve
Don’t leave your promotion to chance. Get instant access to proven resources like my Digital Promotion Toolkit and Police Promotion Masterclass and start preparing like a pro today. For tailored guidance, get in touch or listen to my extensive Police Promotion Podcast for powerful leadership tips.