Would you stand outside during a Cat 5 hurricane? Run toward the eye of a tornado? Or jump off a cliff without a parachute?
Exactly!
Not only would I not jump off a cliff without a parachute, I wouldn’t jump off of a cliff with one! Call me crazy, but I can’t get in my car without buckling my seat belt.
Recently, I read an article in The Atlantic by David Brooks (link to article) and can’t get one sentence of the 10ish minute read out of my head, “Power without prudence and humility invariably fails.”
Why?
Genuine power comes from dominant, brazen, innovative, and often cavalier behaviors that collectively garner attention and demand submission and compliance. Power is only powerful if one out does another.
No risk, no reward. No pain, no gain. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
You get the idea. So what’s the problem?
The problem is, power without prudence is reckless, volatile and extremely consequential. Imagine bulldozing your house to create extra space on your property only to realize you just demoed the only roof over your head.
Like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Impulsive, rash behavior has consequences when left unchecked.
Prudence is the check and humility is the balance.
Prudence is common sense dressed to the nines for nice evening out on the town. Common sense is common because we share in the reality of the consequential outcome of such catastrophic choices. Like, I will die if I jump off a cliff without a parachute or run toward the eye of a tornado.
Prudence reasons consequential actions in real time. It balances the risk with the reward while pushing the envelope. Like hitting a grand slam in the 9th inning with the bases loaded. A statistical anomaly measured by the rarity behind the effort and successful outcome.
A win with the last swing of a bat. That is where a hero is born.
Where does humility enter the picture? Humility, the power hungry may argue, is a sign of weakness. A step toward self reflection and that vulnerable compassionate crap that is for the weak. Never let them see you sweat!
Contrarily, if we are all fallibly human, humility is noble and nobility is powerful and worthy of emulation.
If humility is worthy of emulation its power rests in the perception of the efforts hidden in the blind. The power exists not because you were told where to look but rather enabled a clear view and uninfluenced interpretation of what you witnessed.
Humility is empowering because it draws you into the power through the conduct of those that successfully exhibit the behavior.
Humility is you standing in front of a mirror reflecting back your image and the path you just conquered. It favors accountability over blame, ownership over excuses, confidence over arrogance, empathy over apathy, altruism over narcissism, and compassion over defiance.
Silent traits observed by the masses.
It creates the space and energy for successes to be successes and mistakes to be mistakes. I am fortunate to have witnessed many fine and worthy examples of humility in my lifetime.
Power without prudence and humility is ruthless. It is winner takes all without regard for those in its way or the consequences that will result. The volatility is so erratic it leaves your head spinning in utter disbelief.
Power without prudence and humility takes everyone as prisoners leaving the weakest among us hopelessly feeble. If you are up against a mile high brick wall, there is no getting around it.
Power without prudence and humility lacks the common good. It is elitist and favors no one and in the end, not even the elitist.
Power without prudence and humility invariably fails because bulldozing every last thing in the power’s path leaves nothing behind on which to stand powerfully.
So, Dearest Prudence, What the heck?
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