June 29th, 2024

Training to be a leader is hard.

Mion had always known that, but as her lessons with Batcha progressed, the part she was truly having difficulties with was that… aura, that undefinable sense of something, that heavy presence that turned eyes in her direction. It was just so hard to, to…

She didn't even know how to explain it. When Batcha entered a room, she took command of it and everyone in it. Without doing or saying anything, just from stepping inside, she turned all eyes in her direction and silenced all chatter.

Part of it was reputation, Mion knew. But then, it wasn't all reputation, and how could she mimic that?

Batcha was doing her best to train her, of course. She explained –with a patience that sometimes frightened Mion, it so contrasted her normal demeanor– that she took command in the way that she did by simply not giving anyone else the time to ask questions, by bulldozing ahead and trusting that they would follow behind. People, like sheep, were easily led; keeping them under control was another matter, but in that first moment when everyone looked at everyone else for an idea what to do, the first voice speaking up would be needed above all the others.

So, talk first. Talk firmly. Never give anyone any hint that you are not completely confident in your plan of action.

Talk first, but don't talk hastily. Don't rush. Know the situation before you step in; assess, judge, plan, then speak. Do it faster. You must learn to do it faster.

Talk first, raising your voice above all others. Makesure you are heard. Make it sharp, crisp clear.

Be the first to strike, and other will follow.

Mion struggled with this lesson. To instantly snap off orders, to have the first word, to always get in before that metaphorical buzzer, was very tricky for her. She wanted to sit, slow down, check with others –but she couldn't do that if she wanted to collect authority, if she wanted to command respect. Her voice must be first, and loudest, and clearest. She must curb her reflex to consider others and speak.

She knew it was important. Mion had already noticed how this habit created the smooth confidence in her mother and grandmother that she so envied; not waiting for the opinion of others and simply acting created an unbreakable shell of competence. She needed to get into that same habit, however difficult she found it.

Of course, Batcha balanced this with other lessons, but Mion found those easy by comparison. Moving with firm decisiveness in her every act and not behaving as though she sought the approval of others did not mean Mion should ignore the opinion of others. She was to command obedience, not demand it.

Every action, word, and thought should be ruthlessly calculated. She was –would be– the head of the Sonozaki Family, one of the Three Families, and her position was the nucleus of many lives and threads of power. She needed to consider the balance between all of them, what should be done to eke out the most benefit for her people –not herself, never that– and what was the best way to protect them. She should be a servant to her family as much as she was a master.

Of course, that idea was for her eyes only, Batcha had explained. The family head preserved the family, protected them, but never should the thought that Mion was serving them enter into any of her relatives' minds. A master was not a servant, and they should obey her without question.

But a master who did not understand what it meant to serve was only a tyrant, so Mion should keep that little warning in mind.

It was easy enough to check any stirrings of future hubris, though –especially when she found it so difficult to master the simple act of taking command.

12.38 PM, USA Central Time