“Veni, Vidi, Vici”: Three Steps to Great Leadership

‘Veni, Vidi, Vici’, who said that, and why is it one of the most famous quotes of antiquity?

Julius Caesar, a man so powerful that the literal words Kaiser, Tzar titles used by emperors for centuries, derive from his last name. 

After swiftly defeating Pharnaces of Pontus during the Battle of Zela, Julius Caesar summed up his victory in three words “Veni, Vidi, Vici '', “I came, I saw, I conquered”. Born on the 12th of July, 100 B.C., Julius Caesar was a Roman general and politician who played a major role in the end of the Roman Republic and the dawn of the Roman Empire. He is considered a figure of unmitigated courage, genius, and strength equaled by few in history. During his reign, Caesar proved to be a powerful, successful, and exemplary leader, for he simply ‘came’, ‘saw’, and ‘conquered’.

How can we apply these three steps for great Leadership today?

1.‘Veni: I Came’

In 50 BC, Caesar had to face two choices: bow to the will of the Senate or cross the Rubicon and ignite a civil war for the helm of Rome. Naturally, he showed up and chose the latter. The first lesson in leadership we can learn from Caesar is ‘to show up’, and be present in your milieu. A leader’s presence in their environment becomes a necessity and not a choice.

When leaders are present, they are able to form deeper bonds fostering more meaningful relationships. If a leader is on the frontline, the troops will fight harder for the common struggle. Caesar has fought his way to the top by personally leading his men on the battlefield, even when he was well past his physical prime. To be a successful leader, you must be present and engage with your surroundings and your team. Anything you ask of your team, you should be comfortable doing yourself. True leaders are not ones relaxing behind a chair, “being decadent, and having people feed them grapes” (Barry Strauss). A true leader is a person, just as how Barry Strauss explains in his book The Death of Caesar, who is present to make decisions! 

As a leader, you have to literally be physically and emotionally present before you can “see”.

2.‘Vidi: I saw’

Caesar saw opportunities where others saw liabilities. He drew from the diversity of ethnicities and cultures to improve his army and solidify rule in his foreign conquests. Instead of labeling the defeated Iberians and Gauls as barbarians, he granted Roman citizenship and even appointed some to the Senate. 

As for his own countrymen after a bloody civil war, Caesar chose to adopt an unprecedented policy of special clemency and mercy toward his former enemies. Caesar was able to see that it was not a wise decision to keep enemies; but rather make alliances. However, he took it a step too far by granting a chance at redemption, “but only in a way that humiliated them” (Barry Strauss), which most likely led to his demise at Brutus and Cassius’ daggers. In addition to humiliating those he sought to restore, he became pompous by dismissing his body-guard, and donning purple robes reserved for Kings. 

While Caesar was initially able to see opportunities and take advantage of them unlike those before him, he became mired in his own vanity. As leaders, we should be careful not to get carried away with our initial successes. It is crucial to stay grounded and be present and connected with your team, otherwise you will go “blind” and may find a few daggers in your back! 

       ‘Men at some time are masters of their fates’ (I. 2. 140). - Julius Caesar, Shakespeare.

 A true leader is an individual with great vision, one who is on the constant lookout for ways to improve, but most importantly retains a sense of humility so that they can continue to “see” clearly. 

As Hegel puts it:

 “We learn from history that we do not learn from history.”

We must always look at the past for reference, and try to learn from it, because the more you know your past, the more you have insight into your future, and the new experiences it might bring you.

3.‘Vici: I Conquered’

During his time, Caesar was considered the most powerful man in Rome. He rose through the ranks and achieved victories ultimately elevating him to one of the most renowned conquerors in history. His accomplishments were immense, however, the tactics he used to conquer were as significant as the victories themselves. Caesar led and won numerous military campaigns, including the one against the tribes of Gaul. The tribes of Gaul were often feared by Rome. However, when Caesar came to Gaul with his army, he spotted their weaknesses and he managed to build a master plan to exploit the divisions inside the tribes and used it to conquer them. His triumphs ranged from The Gallic Wars that ended with the Siege of Alesia, to the Battle of Morbihan Gulf and many more.

It is crucial to recognize and honor the victories Caesar achieved for its lessons. Leaders can learn the importance of "conquering" the battles in which they engage, but also learn from the struggles and efforts that precede it. 

It is often the case that congratulations are plentiful when one succeeds. However, one can also benefit from recognizing his or her small efforts achieved daily to reach one's goal. From being present in your environment to paying attention to implementing multiple strategies and seeing what works, are the components that turns a leader into a Caesar. It is inevitable to lose some battles, however, view those losses as lessons, re-strategize when necessary, and eventually you will win the war! At the end of the day, what matters is you came, you saw, you fought hard, and you conquered.