Are You More Like Henry V or Lady Macbeth?

April 23 is Shakespeare’s birthday (1564) and death day (1616).  Shakespeare gave us the gifts of both storytelling and lessons in leadership.

As a classically trained actor, I think of Shakespeare often since we are still using his idioms 400+ years later:

• Wild goose chase (Romeo & Juliet)

• Seen better days (As You Like It)

• Off with his head (Richard III)

• It’s Greek to me (Julius Caesar)

• Love is blind (Merchant of Venice)

• Break the ice (Taming of the Shrew)

• Heart of gold (Henry V)

• Good riddance (Troilus and Cressida)

• You’ve got to be cruel to be kind (Hamlet)

• And this list goes on and on...

Shakespeare is much more than a master of words and storytelling.  He’s also a master of lessons in leadership. 

Be less like this (spoiler alert—it didn’t end well for these folks):

• Othello listened to hearsay without verifying the source

• Lear was buttered-up by sycophants who said what he wanted to hear

• Lady Macbeth was power-hungry

• Hamlet was indecisive

Be more like this:

• Rosalind was resilient, witty and true to her family and friends

• Prospero grew and changed, repented, forgave

• Feste spoke truth to power

• Henry V engaged hearts and minds to achieve impossible goals

On Shakespeare’s day, I ask “What are we learning from leaders today? Who is more like Henry V and less like Othello? Who is too much like Lear or Lady Macbeth?  Where do we need the Festes and Rosalinds?” What role are you and I playing as leaders right now?