alexander

Leadership Process Four: Directing Symbols 123
30: Cutting the Gordian Knot
Today the phrase ‘‘cut the Gordian knot’’ is a cliché, implying
‘‘make it happen’’ or ‘‘get things done.’’ How did it become
one? Alexander cut the Gordian knot. But what most people do
not know is that the task was to untie the knot. This impossible
task was handled symbolically. Visiting the knot was brilliant,
but untying it was a lie. Perception is more important than reality
when symbols are involved.
After subduing the coast of modern-day Turkey, Alexander
spent nearly a year—one could say he wasted a year—
traveling through the central portion of the country. The
most noteworthy event was his encounter with the Gordian
knot.
For centuries there existed the myth of this complex
knot, made of a special bark, which united the yoke and
tongue of an ox cart. In the West, we are commonly knowledgeable
about the Arthurian tradition of Excalibur: ‘‘He
who pulleth this sword from this stone shall rule England.’’
In antiquity, ‘‘he who could untie the Gordian knot would
rule Asia’’ (which for all intents meant the whole world).
Alexander may have pursued the Gordian knot to sanction
his inevitability, support his claim to heroism, bolster his
ego, enhance his visibility, embolden his army and generals,
impress the locals, embellish his reputation, intimidate Darius,
or maybe all of these reasons and more that we can
scarcely guess. Whatever the reason, the outcome was perfect
public relations.
Historians are not at all clear on what happened. (It is