Cadet Violet Sorrengail, Leader
Leaders are readers, and not just leadership or management books. I learn A LOT from fiction.
Empathy. Different perspectives. How leaders can show up in different ways.
Just like in life, the leaders in books aren’t always leaders by title.
For example, Violet Sorrengail, a first-year cadet at the Basgiath War College in Rebecca Yarro’s book Fourth Wing*. Violet’s life plan was to be a Scribe, but General Sorrengail had other plans for her youngest daughter. Sorrengail’s are riders.
Violet exhibits leadership early and continues to grow into her leadership abilities. Here is what I saw in Violet (without spoilers).
1) Be committed to your values and stand up for what is right. She chooses not to kill an enemy when he lying at her feet unconscious even when she is reminded that he would kill her if given the chance. In fact, he already had. She replies, “That’s a statement on his character. Not mine.” There’s more, but it’s a big spoiler. Trust me, she stands up for the greater good.
2) Have a growth mindset. She never planned to be in the Rider Quadrant, so she didn’t have as much time to prepare but that doesn’t stop her from learning, practicing and working hard at the new skills she needs.
3) Hone multiple skills and strengths. She has the “heart of a rider, mind of a scribe”. She knows that you can’t always win with physical strength, and uses her mind, her love of research and her knowledge to solve problems differently.
4) Understand differences and use what works for you. Sometimes what works for others doesn’t work for you. Okay, Xaden actually tells Violet this, but she listens (which is another important trait of leaders, listening and learning). Violet is physically small. As Xaden says, she’s “tiny” and needs daggers that befit her size. The bigger weapons that fit others are a liability for her.
5) Understand and properly wield your power. Violet’s power is unique to her. She knows to keeps “one foot firmly grounded at all times. You’re useless unless you’re connected to your power, and you’re dangerous unless you can contain it.”
6) Listen to others and trust yourself. Her sister Mira advises her not to make friends, only forge alliances and Xaden tells her to trust very few, but Violet listens to herself and builds true trusting relationships.
7) Adapt to accomplish a goal. “The right way isn’t the only way.” In this situation, “right” isn’t about right or wrong but about what is normal and expected. Violet used her knowledge and resources to meet a major goal without breaking the rules. She finished the Gauntlet vertical obstacle course, just not the same way the others did.
8) Be compassionate. Before crossing the parapet, Violet traded one of her boots so that another candidate would have a better chance at making it across safely. Violet also thought about the greater good and the impact actions had on everyone, not just the ones that were within their borders. “I will not leave innocent people to die, no matter what side of the border they live on.”
9) Don’t follow the mission blindly. Violet asked questions. She looked at different perspectives. She understood how history could be influenced and how that impacts the present.
10) Have the strength of courage. Violet embodied courage. She took on 3 bullies who were picking on something smaller.
Violet was chosen by her dragon because of her leadership traits. They were one of the first to recognize her leadership abilities.
*I recommend Fourth Wing and want to be clear that there is a lot of violence, death and sex – it is a war college. It’s not for everyone.