You are the modern courtier

In the realm of monarchs, surrounding the center of master was the court. The court was home to many kinds of dwellers not limited to the noble. The role played by our ancestors in the courts of their masters was that of the courtier. The courtiers all had the single agenda of power and would work to further their own goals in the arena of power. While monarchs and their courts no longer exist in modern day, the practices of the courtier are still relevant to us now.

The courtier played a delicate game of pleasing the master while not appearing better than others; of standing out while downplaying their own accomplishments so as not to make the master insecure. The lessons to be learned from the wise courtiers before us can give us much power. The means have changed, the courts are no more, but we humans are unchanged by time. I realized this myself when trying to tackle a problem I have constantly had: How is it that I exert my influence in groups without alienating myself?

When playing the delicate game of power, the easiest method is a blunt tool. We act as if wild animals, outright declaring our intentions and pushing our agenda on others. Any form of showing off, pushing our control, mocking, anger, all are the blunt instruments used to increase our power. Yet, these methods are not in anyway helpful to us. Often those who try to do such things will be shunned, cast out from the court by the other courtiers.

In your rise to power, there will undoubtedly be those who rank above you, the “masters”. In order to control a group, you must identify the one who holds the most influence and direct them subtly. Asking questions is a powerful way of doing this. Instead of declaring a “We should…”, phrase your direction as, “Is it best to do…?” You have to play to their egos.

It is required to make yourself seem less than you are. Enough that your good traits are dulled so as not to overpower those whose traits are inferior. Your peers will react to any positive traits you possess with resent and will ostracize you. If you are intelligent, hide it. If you have a well developed style, dress down. If you have a natural ability to court attention, suppress it.

The very trait which defines us distinctly over all other primates, our ability to think, is what forces us to be subtle. We cannot use a blunt instrument when the touch of a surgeon’s knife is needed. The wise courtier is subtle is his actions. The two examples I draw on are: Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, who was the French diplomat most notably for Napoleon, and Henry Kissinger, who was the diplomat for President Nixon. Both of these men were superb in that they were subtle to influence their masters (Napoleon and Nixon) without putting them on guard. They used their skills and intelligence to put themselves into a position where they made their masters feel secure, while simultaneously making them dependent on them.

But do not apply this as law. There are situations where you will find yourself the “master” and must act accordingly. Behaving in such a way while being in control will only put your further from power. Those around you will jump on any opportunity to seize it from you. When you are in control, you must do the opposite. Instead of appealing to others to influence, ignore outside suggestions. You must pretend to be taking into account their opinions, but never apply it fully. You must exert your own course of action above all others.

Playing the role of the courtier is not something that has been outdated, it has simply been repackaged to a different format. In your daily struggle with others, do not forget the lessons of the courtier.