Business is struggling. Sales are down more than 20% in your most important territory. Customers are increasingly dissatisfied with the delivery time of your product. Orders have known to be filled incorrectly resulting in irate phone calls from clients and cancellations. Company morale is sinking fast in the region, and the grapevine has revealed that some of your most talented employees are leaving to join a competitor in the same field. .
What would most CEOs and COOs do? They would fire the current regional manager and bring in a new individual with a proven record of accomplishments. Imagine his or her resume: Harvard MBA; 5 Years as National Sales Manager for the XYZ Co. with a host of recommendations from its executives and impressive sales stack rankings; Vice-President of Domestic Operations at ABC Co. (4 years) - successful in the task of restructuring the entire business to produce the highest profit margins in company history.
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What would most CEOs or COOs NOT do? They would NOT hire a liberal arts graduate. On one exceptional occasion in ancient history, however, a graduate with a humanities background was not only hired - but hired to manage a crucial portion of the Roman Empire. His name was Julian, cousin of the Emperor Constantius, and he succeeded in the most unlikely of positions.
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After the death of the Emperor Constantine the Great (22 May 337AD), a predictable power struggle ensued resulting in several dead relatives of the late Emperor and the rise of Constantius to the throne in Constantinople (now Istanbul). While consolidating his rule early in his reign, the new Emperor had to tread softly due to his many lurking enemies. He had supported an Arian interpretation of Christianity instead of the orthodox view of the Church. As the Church held that the Word (Logos or divine reason) and God were 'co-eternal', Arians claimed that the Church was essentially worshipping two gods - God and the Word. Exiles, murders and a grand conference (the Council of Nicaea in 325AD) all followed from this doctrinal dispute and tensions were high as the Arian Constantius took power.
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Constantius needed to delegate responsibility to manage his vast Empire, but who could he trust? He needed a non-threatening, innocuous person to represent the purple in Gaul (now France and part of Germany) even if imperfectly. His young cousin Julian, who had devoted his life to books and academic study in Athens, was a logical choice. After granting Juilan the title of 'Caesar' ('Supreme Governor' of Gaul), Constantius moved on to more pressing matters. Julian was largely forgotten. As long as the bibliophile could govern somewhat effectively, his service would be useful. Rather than a mediocre steward, however, Julian was discovered to not only be a supremely capable and efficient bureaucrat but also a formidable military leader as well.
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How could a 'liberal arts graduate' achieve far greater success than 'experienced administrators' and 'proven army generals'? Take note corporate executives. Due to studying history and philosophy, Julian developed impressive analytical powers and a nuanced understanding of human nature that prepared him to lead rather than follow men.
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Upon the death of Constantius (361AD), Julian and his loyal legions marched into Constantinople and claimed the throne. The new Emperor, designated 'The Apostate' due to his pagan, non-Christian beliefs, restored the Roman pantheon to the Empire. Christians were officially chastised but not persecuted under his rule. His reign came to a sudden end in 364AD after being killed on a campaign against the Persians.
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Crunching numbers, managing supply chains and building new systems are all laudable skills. However, the corporate world and the institutions of government ought to consider the merits of recruiting well-rounded individuals with degrees in the humanities. Although some additional training might be necessary initially, a 'liberal arts mind' usually has a short learning-curve, excellent analytical and relationship-building skills and an ability to problem-solve with creative ideas.
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Julian, you're hired.
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J Roquen