I learned Latin at school. Still not entirely sure why.
What I do know is that I was terrible at it.
So terrible, in fact, that I once started a competition with my friends to see who could get the lowest mark in an exam. I won. With 5%. Yep. I was that good. (Or completely disengaged, if we’re being honest.)
Fast-forward to today- I spend my time helping people become better managers and leaders. And the other day, I stumbled across a list of Latin phrases.
Naturally, I had a thought: Could I redeem myself by making Latin useful in management training?
Challenge accepted.
Here’s what happened when I tried to link some ancient Roman wisdom to modern leadership skills. You might be surprised by how well it fits…
Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit – Nothing comes from nothing
Especially not great leadership. You can’t wing it and hope your team figures things out. Development takes time, effort and (let’s be honest) the occasional panic when someone says, “Wait, that deadline was today?”
Acta, Non Verba – Actions, not words
Except when those words are “Let’s circle back” or “Pop that in the diary.” We all love a good meeting about meetings. But ultimately, it’s what you do that counts. Consistency, clarity, follow-through – that’s where leadership lives.
Discendo Discimus – By learning, we teach
And by teaching, we learn how much caffeine it takes to get through a full-day workshop without visibly glitching. Knowledge-sharing is a two-way street. The best managers are learners first.
Dum Spiro, Spero – While I breathe, I hope
Mainly that someone, somewhere, actually read the pre-course materials. (Spoiler: they didn’t.)
Felix Culpa – A happy mistake
Like that time I created a learning module without fully understanding the full remit. I ended up creating a new module on the fly. Accident? Innovation? Who’s to say. Either way – I nailed it.
Audere Est Facere – To do is to dare
That awkward conversation you’ve been putting off? Time to have it. It might feel uncomfortable, but the growth it brings, for you and them, is worth it. Often, the build-up is worse than the moment itself.
Carpe Diem – Seize the day
Preferably before 3pm when attention spans vanish and biscuits become the only remaining source of motivation.
Semper Fidelis – Always faithful
To your team, to your values, and, apparently, to the 27 tabs you’ve kept open for three weeks “just in case.”
Alis Propriis Volat – She flies with her own wings
There comes a moment when you stop waiting for permission and start backing your own ideas. You speak up. You get creative. You try something new. And that’s where the magic happens.
Amor Omnia Vincit – Love conquers all
Okay, maybe not all. But in teams, love looks like empathy, listening, respecting different perspectives and behaviours. The best managers tune in, ask better questions, and appreciate the diversity of thought around them.
Brutum Fulmen – A harmless threat
Except when it’s the “Can we chat later?” message that sends you spiralling. Or the first whisper of a restructure. These moments feel heavy, but they’re not always the storm your brain predicts.
So… what’s the learning here?
Apart from the fact that I now feel smugly vindicated for dragging myself through Latin class? (Still not over that 5%, by the way.)
Here’s the point: ancient wisdom can still teach us something new, especially when we put it into a modern, practical, and human context. Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about learning, growing, daring, listening, and sometimes winging it with good intent.
Latin + Leadership = An unlikely combo. But weirdly effective.
And I’m pretty sure I’d get at least 6% this time!! Or maybe not!!