Chapter 225
The Weight of Command
On the rug-covered bench where Pierre had seen him in the morning sat Kutúzov, his gray head hanging, his heavy body relaxed. He gave no orders, but only assented to or dissented from what others suggested. “Yes, yes, do that,” he replied to various proposals. “Yes, yes: go, dear boy, and have a look,” he would say to one or another of those about him; or, “No, don’t, we’d better wait!” He listened to the reports that were brought him and gave directions when his subordinates demanded that of him; but when listening to the reports it seemed as if…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Confidence Moments
Think of three situations where people looked to you for emotional cues—during a family crisis, work emergency, or friend's problem. Write down what you actually felt inside versus what you projected outwardly. Then identify one current situation where your confidence level is affecting others around you.
Consider:
- •Consider times when your worry made others more anxious versus when your calm helped them cope
- •Notice the difference between fake optimism and genuine confidence in your ability to handle whatever comes
- •Think about how your emotional state right now might be influencing your family, coworkers, or friends
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you had to project confidence you didn't fully feel. What did you learn about the relationship between leadership and managing other people's beliefs about what's possible?
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