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Feb 3 - Cohort Relationships
Cohort Relationships
"One of the greatest stories of this cohort relationship ever recorded is that of Damon and Pythias. Pythias was thrown into prison for an offense against the king. Because Pythias was married and had a family, Damon offered to take his place in prison while Pythias went home to say goodbye to his family. The king was so impressed by the offer that he agreed to the arrangement, provided that Damon was to suffer death in Pythias's place if Pythias failed to return. Damon accepted the plan.
At the appointed hour Pythias had not arrived and Damon was taken to the place of execution. Just as Damon was to be put to death, Pythias returned and took his place. The king was taken by the fact that Pythias would return to have his life taken in order to keep his promise to Damon that the king released them both.
The loyalty and commitment of Damon and Pythias to one another is characteristic of the cohort relationship. Like the Roman region cohorts, this relationship between Damon and Pythias symbolizes powerful leadership where the relationship itself elicits a pledge, a resolution, and a decision to stand for others, to support others, and to raise them up in stature and character. The opportunity and challenge of leadership is to treat those whom you are to lead as cohorts. They are to be your equals. You are to be each other's advocates (Stephan & Pace, 2002, p. 56)."
Reference: Stephan, E.G. & Pace, R.W. (2002). Powerful leadership: how to unleash the potential in others and simplify your own life. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall PTR.
Do you have strong cohort relationships?
Powerful Leadership is available on loan from the Ohio State University Leadership Center. A complete listing of all the Leadership Center's resources is available on our website http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu/
Created: 2008-04-02, Updated: 2008-11-12
