Manliness and the Gent
Posted in Uncategorized on 14. Sep, 2009
What’s the Connection?
The fine gents at The Art of Manliness (one of our favorite blogs, I might add) have a great post up today titled “The Different Types of Manliness.” In it, they describe six different “types” of men that personify the ideals of manliness in unique ways. Each type is a caricature used to illustrate specific qualities. According to the article, the six include The Warrior, The Lone Wolf, The Adventurer, The Gentleman, The Statesman, and The Family Man.
I won’t go into the full description of each type here (read their post), but their description of the external characteristics of a gentleman is quite good:
“The gentleman is suave, urbane, polite and respectful to all, both to inferiors and superiors. Dapper in dress, proficient in the conversational arts, confident and witty, he easily wins friends and woos the ladies. He is skilled in and knowledgeable about arts, culture, and current events.”
They provide a similar description for each of the types, and ultimately make the argument that each offers something unique and that no single type is any better than the others. As they put it,
“From the warrior we learn courage; from the lone wolf we come to understand the importance of individuality; the adventurer teaches us to find ways to explore wherever we are in life; the gentleman rounds off our rough edges; the statesman reminds us to be civic-minded, and the family man teaches us about selflessness.”
A very good point, because any successful leader will incorporate the best qualities of each. We happen to focus on the gentlemen here, but we’re very thankful to sites like The Art of Manliness for covering the whole equation. They give us context and perspective, and in doing so, help us focus on our particular niche. Our hope is to offer up a perspective that those with different approaches may find helpful as well.
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The Characteristics of a Gentleman: More Important With Time?
If you consider being a gentleman an end itself, then I’d agree that the characteristics described are just one way for core values to manifest themselves. No type can be any more or less important than the others. But if being a gentleman is more an approach than a destination, for most men this means that that it increases in relative importance over time.
Why? If you examine the description of a gentleman used by The Art of Manliness, you’ll see that most of the characteristics actually revolve around the way the gentleman interacts with others and society. This type of interaction becomes increasingly important in leadership roles, primarily because of the increased emphasis placed on interpersonal relationships and communication skills. This isn’t a matter of principle but of practicality: professional progress usually results in displacement from the tactical (hands-on) level and puts men into positions where interpersonal skill and charisma are crucial to the ability to lead.
In the business world, most managers that come up through the ranks of a company usually face a moment when they have to relinquish their role in day-to-day affairs and become “the management.” So while it’s possible for any type of man to progress in their field, the interpersonal nature of a gentleman’s skill set means that there’s a natural tendency for it to be adopted by leaders of all types.
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An Officer and a Gentleman – The Military Example
As an example, note that a military General—no matter how brave—will rarely actually have to face the enemy face to face. He’s simply too important, and his value lies in his ability to set a vision, clearly convey strategy and approach, and lead and inspire others to go forward. These skills are rooted in his role as a warrior, but they are primarily interpersonal in nature. This is the realm of a gentleman.
It’s possible to be a foot soldier without knowing anything beyond your immediate circumstances—all that’s required is an ability and willingness to follow orders. But if you want to be a General, you have to know how the things you’re asking of your men fit in to the big picture. You have to be able to communicate your vision to subordinates. You have to inspire the confidence that would lead a soldier to put his life on the line, and you definitely have to keep your cool under fire. Many soldiers can be tough—but those that aspire to become Generals usually have to become gentlemen as well.
As a cadet at the Air Force Academy, one of the key lessons that I learned from the very first day was the importance of being not only an officer, but an officer and a gentleman. What the military refers to as “customs and courtesies” are not only as part of military discipline, but also a key component of leadership training that’s ultimately applicable far beyond the battlefield.
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The Bottom Line
The superficial stuff of a gentleman—style, class, and taste—may seem important at times, but they really don’t matter all that much in the long run when compared to the interpersonal qualities that really matter. The meaningful and substantive characteristics are those that allow one to lead and serve effectively, and I’d suggest that to the extent that these characteristics can be found in a gentleman, they can also enable the success of any type of man.
-Trey
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Original Article: The Different Types of Manliness at The Art of Manliness
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