Serious politics is not characterized by publicity. Most of the "rulers of the masses" had the so-called "gray cardinals". It was they who made the fateful decisions, while remaining in the shadows.

Father Joseph

The expression "grey eminence" itself appeared in France in the 17th century. Since childhood, we all know the image of the Duke of Richelieu - the “Red Cardinal”. In the works of Dumas, he appears as a cunning and treacherous person, but in fact, Richelieu was a talented politician and patriot of France. But even he could not alone fight the powerful Spanish clique at the French court. His faithful assistant and participant in all the intrigues was a man named Francois Leclerc du Tremblay. He once dreamed of a military career, but suddenly changed his views and took the veil as a monk of the Capuchin order under the name Joseph. Because of the nondescript brown robes, he was nicknamed “gray”, but respectfully called “Eminence”, just like his high-ranking patron, although Father Joseph became a cardinal only before his death, in 1638. “Two people are the embodiment of French politics at the beginning of the 17th century: one, Richelieu, was its architect, and the other, Father Joseph, its core,” wrote the French historian Pierre Benois about him. Father Joseph was feared and hated by contemporaries, and modern historians have not yet decided whether he was a genius or a villain. During the Thirty Years' War, he raised taxes significantly, which pushed many French people into extreme poverty. But Father Joseph himself led an ascetic life: he ate bread and water, walked, and even died in complete poverty. He managed the international policy of Louis XIII, flooded Europe and the East with his spies, intrigued against England and France, fought the Protestants. On the other hand, he is called a heartless person and even a sadist. He believed that the end justifies any means. A stern ascetic, a sincere patriot, a devoted friend, a religious fanatic, an unprincipled politician, an insidious intriguer - all this is one person, who still remains a mystery to us, the “grey eminence” of the Duke of Richelieu.

Adolf Fredrik Munch

"Grey cardinals" helped their patrons not only in war, but also in love. The Swedish king Gustav III did not get along with his wife Sophia Magdalena, as they said, because of the unconventional preferences of the sovereign. But, nevertheless, the queen had to give birth to an heir to the throne. For help, Gustav III turned to his chamber-page named Adolf Frederick Munch. According to one version, the young man managed to reconcile the king and queen, and Sophia Magdalena conceived a legitimate heir. According to another, the king, having failed, sent the handsome Munch to the queen, who managed to seduce Sophia (then he was the father of the heir, the future Gustav IV). One way or another, but Munch was generously awarded by both the king and the queen, received the title of baron and the post of quartermaster of the royal palace. Later, Munch took a place in the Swedish order of knighthood - the Order of the Seraphim, which in terms of prestige can only be compared with the legendary round table of King Arthur. By that time, Munch already bore the title of count. Rumor has it that this former page received favors not at all for his advice, but for sharing a bed with King Gustav. Gustav III listened to Munch both in love and in war. During the conflict with Russia, the king, on the advice of Munch, launched the production of counterfeit Russian coins (moreover, the fake came out of high quality, only the crowns above the heads of heraldic eagles differed). Having won on the economic front, Gustav III launched military operations, but after several victories he decided not to continue the war.

Li Lianying (1848–1911)

The East is a delicate matter and incomprehensible to the European mind, and the "gray cardinals" there are appropriate. The most influential people in the Chinese court have long been eunuchs. But not all (there could have been more than 30 thousand of them in the service of the emperor), but the main ones, serving the imperial family and the most beloved concubines of the Son of Heaven. One of the many eunuchs at court was Li Lianying. According to legend, he was only a shoemaker's apprentice, but, having heard what influence a eunuch could achieve, he castrated himself and, having healed, went to get a job in the imperial service. At the court, a young servant Li Lianying met with a concubine of the fifth (lowest) rank Lan Ke. She was in disgrace - the emperor visited her only once and did not find her attractive or interesting. So the girl would have had to live out her life in the far corner of the garden, serving other concubines, if not for the help of the eunuchs. Relying on the young beauty, Li Lianying hired teachers for her, she studied music, drawing, and lovemaking. In return, the eunuch received a significant part of her monetary allowance. The next time she met the emperor, Lan Ke was able to please him, and soon gave birth to the only male heir. After that, the concubine received the name Cixi - Merciful and Sending Happiness. In the future, this cruel and ambitious woman will become the last ruler of a dying empire. Together with his patroness, La Lianying also went upstairs. He took the title of "Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord" - only one rank below the imperial one. He was the only one who could sit under the empress, and even on her throne. Together with Cixi, they squandered the state treasury and made bribery a legal practice. In the struggle for power, neither the eunuch nor his mistress disdained the most vile methods. Li Lianying did not long outlive his mistress. According to one version, he was poisoned, it is only unknown by whom: too many people hated and feared this man.

Joseph Fouche

Some shadow schemers manage to serve not just one ruler, but several. The French politician Joseph Fouche was especially unscrupulous in this matter. He received an excellent spiritual education and was formally a monk, which did not prevent him from mocking the Catholic Church and emphasizing his atheism in every possible way. Fouche met the French Revolution with joy - it opened up many new opportunities for him. He joined the Jacobin party and actively supported their policy of terror. Fouche advocated the execution of Louis XVI, during the uprising in Lyon, it was on Fouche's orders that hundreds of people were shot. But as soon as the popularity of such methods began to decline, Fouche went over to the moderate wing and began to condemn terror. He even participated in the overthrow and execution of his former colleague Robespierre. In August 1799, Fouche was appointed Minister of Police. Here his penchant for intrigues manifested itself in full: he collected compromising materials on the powers that be, created an extensive spy network, a whole staff of provocateurs and "servants of the law", who, in fact, were hired killers. At this time, Napoleon's star was rising in France. Fouche made a bet on the ambitious Corsican and did not lose. After the coup d'état, Fouche retains his post, but does not enjoy the confidence of the emperor. And not in vain: already in 1809, anticipating the fall of Napoleon, Fouche was negotiating with royalists, republicans and the British, waiting for someone to offer him more. After the restoration of the Bourbons, among their most devoted supporters is, of course, police chief Joseph Fouche. But Fouche also met Napoleon, who returned from exile, as a liberator, and the emperor again appoints him to the same post. After Waterloo, Fouche promotes the second restoration, and as a thank you, Louis XVIII again appoints him Minister of Police. In this way, Fouche managed to keep his post and his head under five governments in the most unstable times for France. Even more surprisingly, Fouche ended his days in his own bed, in self-imposed exile in Austria, surrounded by his family, to whom he left 14 million francs.

Heinrich Johann Friedrich Ostermann

The intrigues of the "gray cardinals" also did not bypass our country. Under Peter I, many bright politicians appeared in Russia, the so-called "chicks of Petrov's nest," Menshikov alone was worth something. But some preferred to remain in the background and help those in power with their advice. One of these shadowy figures was Count Heinrich Osterman, who in Russia was simply dubbed Andrei Ivanovich. The future associate of Peter was born in Westphalia, in the family of a pastor, and studied at the University of Jena. But the young man got involved in a duel and he had to flee from punishment to distant Russia. Osterman quickly learned Russian and got a job in the embassy order - the prototype of the modern Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There he was noticed by Peter I, who needed talented diplomats. Osterman participated in the conclusion of the Nystadt peace with Sweden, a profitable trade agreement with Persia, an alliance with Austria. Successes in the diplomatic field brought Andrei Ivanovich the title of baron. It was on his advice that Peter I transforms the outdated embassy order into the Collegium of Foreign Affairs. According to Osterman's instructions, a "table of ranks" is being drawn up - a document that finally brought order to the intricate system of Russian bureaucracy. Like many of his "gray" colleagues, Osterman was resourceful. After the death of Peter the Great, he supported Catherine I and was appointed vice chancellor and member of the Supreme Privy Council. Under Anna Ioannovna, he received the title of count. Anna Leopoldovna made him an Admiral General. And only Elizabeth dared to get rid of the powerful intriguer, and then at the last moment she replaced the execution with a life exile.

Mikhail Suslov

The path of Mikhail Suslov to Brezhnev's "gray cardinals" lay from the very bottom. Mikhail Andreevich was born into a poor peasant family, after the revolution he became a member of the Komsomol, already in 1921 he joined the Bolshevik Party. He received an economic education and even taught at Moscow State University. His career made a huge leap in the post-war years. Under Stalin, Suslov was responsible for the ideological sphere. He fought against "rootless cosmopolitanism", edited the newspaper "Pravda", was a member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU. The publicist Zhores Medvedev even calls Suslov the "secret General Secretary" and believes that Stalin wanted to see him as his successor. During the Khrushchev era, Suslov was also in charge of ideological matters. It was on his initiative that troops were brought into rebellious Hungary. In 1962, Suslov was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. But he responded to this with black ingratitude, arranging the removal of Khrushchev from the post of First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee in 1964. Under Brezhnev, Suslov still remained in the background, although his role increased. He was now responsible for culture, education, censorship and, of course, as before, for the ideological sphere. Suslov was known as a conservative and a dogmatist, his name is associated with the persecution of the intelligentsia, the arrests of dissidents, the exile of Solzhenitsyn and Sakharov. Perhaps the most public act in Suslov's biography was his funeral. They were shown on television, and the whole country plunged into three days of mourning. Suslov died at the age of 79, a few months before Brezhnev, without seeing the collapse of the idea for which he fought, albeit in a very peculiar way, all his life.

Edward Mandel House

In 1876, Edward House, along with his friend Oliver Morton, became involved in the presidential election campaign. Morton's father was a senator, and the young men were able to get "behind the scenes" of the country's political life. It was then that Edward realized an important thing. “Only two or three in the Senate and two or three in the House of Representatives, along with the president, really rule the country. All the rest are only dummy figures ... therefore I did not aspire to official posts and did not try to orate, ”he will write later. After receiving the inheritance, Edward gladly went into business, but it was just a game for him. The only thing that really interested him was politics. In 1892, he takes a seemingly reckless step: in the gubernatorial election in Republican to the roots of Texas, he supports the Democratic candidate James Hogg. House is behind the scenes running Hogg's campaign, and his candidate is victorious. For the next 10 years, House was an adviser to four governors without holding any official post. But only in 1912, during the next presidential election, he enters the world political arena. House helps Woodrow Wilson come to power, who replies to his "gray eminence" with gratitude and friendship. Wilson's further policy was determined by US financial circles, and above all by House, who called himself "the power behind the throne." Thanks to House's policy, the United States began to actively intervene in European events. The League of Nations was practically his brainchild, as were many of the decisions of the Paris Conference that ended World War I. One project of House, fortunately, was still not implemented: he believed that the rest of the world would live more peacefully if there were not one state, but four instead of Russia. At the end of his life, House left big politics and took up literary work.

Grey Cardinal

Grey Cardinal
From French: Eminence grise. Literally: Gray Eminence.
France in the 17th century this was the name of the assistant to Cardinal (since 1622) Richelieu (1585-1642), the Capuchin monk Father Joseph Francois le Clerc du Trambey, who was the right hand of the cardinal and had a considerable influence on him, while keeping in the background. Father Joseph wore a gray cassock (hence the nickname), in contrast to his patron, dressed in a scarlet cardinal robe.
In modern language, the nickname "gray cardinal" usually refers to Richelieu himself, referring to the huge influence that he had on the King of France, Louis XIII the Just (in 1624, Cardinal Richelieu became the head of the royal council, that is, the actual ruler of France).
Allegorically: about someone who acts behind the scenes, secretly, in the shadows, but at the same time really determines the actions of a formal leader (disapproved).

Encyclopedic Dictionary of winged words and expressions. - M.: "Lokid-Press". Vadim Serov. 2003 .

See what "Gray Cardinal" is in other dictionaries:

Exist., number of synonyms: 1 puppeteer (6) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

Francois du Tremblay. Artist Jean Leon Gerome The Gray Cardinal ... Wikipedia

grey Cardinal- about someone who has great power, but does not occupy a corresponding high position and remains in the shadows. The turnover is associated with the name of the monk - Father Joseph, confidant, inspirer and participant in the intrigues of Cardinal Richelieu ... Phraseology Handbook

CARDINAL, a, husband. 1. For Catholics: the highest (after the pope) spiritual rank, as well as a person who has this rank. 2. unchanged The same as crimson (according to the color of the cardinal's mantle). The gray cardinal is a person who has great power, but does not occupy ... ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

cardinal- I. CARDINAL a, m. cardinal m., lat. cardinalis. 1. The highest clergy after the pope in the Catholic Church, the hallmark of which is a red hat and mantle; a person who has this rank. ALS 1. There are cases in which even the smallest number ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

This term has other meanings, see Cardinal (meanings). Vestments of Cardinals Cardinal ... Wikipedia

App., use. very often Morphology: ser, sulphur, sulphur, sulphur; grayer; nar. gray 1. Gray is a color intermediate between black and white, as well as an object of this color. Gray building. | Gray screen. | Gray overcoat. | Gray car. |… … Dictionary of Dmitriev

This article lacks links to sources of information. Information must be verifiable, otherwise it may be questioned and removed. You can ... Wikipedia

Cardinal Color coordinates HEX #C41E3A RGB¹ (r, g, b) (196, 30, 58) CMYK² ... Wikipedia

The gray eminence is the name given to influential people (especially in politics) who act behind the scenes and usually do not occupy formal positions with such powers. Contents 1 Origin of the concept 2 Examples in history 3 Literature ... Wikipedia

Books

• Banker. The Gray Cardinal, Dick Francis. Your attention is invited to a collection of novels by D. Francis ...

From French: Eminence grise. Literally: Gray Eminence. France in the 17th century this was the name of the assistant to the cardinal (since 1622) Richelieu (1585 1642) of the Capuchin monk father Joseph Francois le Clerc du Trambey, who was the right hand of the cardinal and ... ... Dictionary of winged words and expressions

grey Cardinal- noun, number of synonyms: 1 puppeteer (6) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

grey Cardinal- about someone who has great power, but does not occupy a corresponding high position and remains in the shadows. The turnover is associated with the name of the monk - Father Joseph, confidant, inspirer and participant in the intrigues of Cardinal Richelieu ... Phraseology Handbook

cardinal- CARDINAL, ah, husband. 1. For Catholics: the highest (after the pope) spiritual rank, as well as a person who has this rank. 2. unchanged The same as crimson (according to the color of the cardinal's mantle). The gray cardinal is a person who has great power, but does not occupy ... ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

cardinal- I. CARDINAL a, m. cardinal m., lat. cardinalis. 1. The highest clergy after the pope in the Catholic Church, the hallmark of which is a red hat and mantle; a person who has this rank. ALS 1. There are cases in which even the smallest number ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

Cardinal- This term has other meanings, see Cardinal (meanings). Vestments of Cardinals Cardinal ... Wikipedia

grey- adj., use very often Morphology: ser, sulphur, sulphur, sulphur; grayer; nar. gray 1. Gray is a color intermediate between black and white, as well as an object of this color. Gray building. | Gray screen. | Gray overcoat. | Gray car. |… … Dictionary of Dmitriev

Grey colour- This article lacks links to sources of information. Information must be verifiable, otherwise it may be questioned and removed. You can ... Wikipedia

Cardinal (color)- Cardinal Color coordinates HEX #C41E3A RGB¹ (r, g, b) (196, 30, 58) CMYK² ... Wikipedia

Dark Cardinal- The gray cardinal is the name given to influential people (especially in politics) who act behind the scenes and usually do not occupy formal positions with such powers. Contents 1 Origin of the concept 2 Examples in history 3 Literature ... Wikipedia

Books

• Banker. The Gray Cardinal, Dick Francis. Your attention is invited to a collection of novels by D. Francis ... Buy for 490 rubles
• Martin Bormann. `Eminence Gray` III Reich, Pavel Pavlenko. 1998 edition. The safety is good. Martin Bormann is one of the most mysterious and terrible personalities in the history of the Third Reich. The main armchair killer did his crimes without leaving ...

Such people do not really stand out in the crowd. They prefer discreet clothes and very discreet perfume. At the same time, a sly grin can often be seen on their face, creating a feeling of superiority over others (and superiority is indeed observed). It is the "gray cardinal" who manages the company, despite the apparent lack of leadership qualities.

These people have a strong intuition that helps them solve complex problems and get around obstacles very easily. They cannot explain their decision, but it almost always turns out to be correct. Therefore, some entrepreneurs or companies almost never face crisis situations. The “gray cardinal” helps the leader to bypass them in time.

"Eminence Gray" is naturally endowed with almost animal charm. He is able to notice any smells. He evaluates people intuitively, rarely paying attention to appearance. If you work for a large company, you need to be on good terms with such a person or you risk being fired soon.

Reasons for the appearance of the "gray cardinal"

"The gray cardinal" is a necessary person in the company. It helps the leader to look at the situation from the outside. However, there are bosses who are one hundred percent sure that they are right. They suffer from managerial schizophrenia. It is rather an exception to the rule. A very rare boss can afford this, so the “gray eminence” is vital for the company in the role of the alter ego of the boss.

This state of affairs cannot but suit the authorities, because the company's affairs under the shadow leadership of his protégé are going uphill. He just gets his salary and is present at all the necessary meetings. Not life, but a fairy tale. But there is a downside here. Gradually, all employees of the company cease to perceive the formal boss and go over to the side of the "gray cardinal". The latter can take the place of the boss. If the boss is smart enough, he will find a way to use all the possibilities of his protégé for the good of the company, while not losing his seat.

Very often, the alter ego of the boss becomes his wife. There are many bosses who do not hold important meetings without consulting with their spouse. It is she who regulates the work of the company in the right direction. The boss understands this and does his best to hide from his subordinates that his decisions belong to his wife. Otherwise, he can easily lose credibility among employees, and then the chair.

You are honest, hardworking, principled. But he doesn't. You act in the open, and he is on the sly. You want to be in front of everyone and on their lips. And he prefers shade. Which of you will quickly overcome the career ladder and take the first prize? Do not rush to answer, it is not so obvious. After all, you are just a top manager. And he is a gray cardinal.

How to calculate SC?

As you know, it is very difficult to look for a black cat in a dark room, especially if it is not there. The gray cardinal is gray for that, in order to easily hide against any background, pretend to be a rag in any situation, and only then .... But then it will be too late, so if there is the slightest suspicion that the company has a gray cardinal, it must be calculated immediately. And for this it is necessary first of all to determine who exactly we are looking for, and from whom the potential danger may come.

Psychological portrait of SC

We immediately exclude bright, emotional employees, pronounced extroverts from the number of suspects.

We draw attention to those who avoid publicity, do not strive to get into the front ranks, but are not without ambition.

Most often, gray cardinals become phlegmatic with a hidden thirst for power or people with a strong character, but with a lot of complexes.

Reasonable people who love to draw up schemes, plans, and develop a strategy are suitable for such a role.

The gray cardinal is at the same time a bad communicator, but a good psychologist, "a connoisseur of human souls."

In addition, this is a person who does not value people, does not have friends and does not seek to acquire them.

Such a “character” is most satisfied with a situation about which he can say “I did it, but no one knows about it.”

Often the gray eminence is an employee who is next to the head by mutual agreement. In this case, he can play the role of his antipode according to the principle "Bad investigator - good investigator"

If you do not feel psychological talent in yourself and cannot distinguish a phlegmatic person from a choleric person, then the “360 degrees” technique will help to detect a shadow figure. Although, according to Svetlana Chumakova, most often there is no need for such a serious and expensive study, since usually everyone in the company already knows the eminence grise, even if they hide it.

Another clue in the search for our character may be the position he holds or the role he plays in the company.

Most often, SC becomes:
HR director or one of his deputies
Consultant, adviser or personal coach of the head
Lawyer
Secretary or personal assistant to the head
One of the deputy directors
Psychoanalyst
Leader's wife or mistress
Astrologer, fortune teller, or other "spiritual guide"

It is much more difficult for all other members of the team to take this post, due to the distance from the holder of power. But difficult does not mean impossible. As practice shows, almost any employee can become a gray cardinal.

When the subject is found, it's time to move on to solving the second, much more difficult task.

How to get rid of SC?

In order to free herself from the influence of favorites and gray cardinals who brought her to power, Empress Catherine the Great started an expensive and adventurous project that went down in history as the “partition of Poland”. And although its goal was achieved: both the Potemkins and the Orlovs were removed from the throne, this method can hardly be considered particularly effective. How can today, with the least losses, part with a gray figure behind your back?

Anastasia Kulikova, Leading Consultant, Consulting Center "Step": - The presence of such a "character" in a company is a certain element of corporate culture. Probably, you can fight him: collect compromising evidence, look for allies and "be friends against." But it is hardly worth spending energy on it, unless you yourself plan to take his place. The reason is simple: "Mr. Richelieu" appears in the company not so much through his own efforts, but because the general manager has a need for such a figure.

Marina Knyazeva, psychologist-consultant, Lambre company: - Get rid of does not mean expel from the company. The gray cardinal, or informal leader, needs to allocate his own field of activity, he may even have to be promoted. If the influence of the informal leader is positive, then his appointment to a leadership position will benefit both him: he will switch his energy to a peaceful direction, and the team: people will be drawn to him. If the influence was negative, then, having become one of those in power, he will lose the authority of an oppositionist in the eyes of the people. But the most important thing in this situation is to learn how to manage the gray cardinal, and for this you need to understand what levers of control he himself uses. A “controlled” gray eminence can be very useful for a company, but an expelled informal leader can bring enormous harm, especially if this is a really valuable figure. He can be sheltered by your competitors, and a person with such a temperament of offense does not forgive and does not forget for a long time. So before you get into a fight, think about how it could end.

Vasily Pigin, managing partner of Dialog Management Consulting: - The easiest way to calculate the gray cardinal is to determine the one who is endowed with the maximum amount of "undeserved" privileges. So, in order to get rid of such an informal leader, you just need to make the secret clear. Change the decision-making process and the distribution of wealth so that they become transparent, and the cardinal will leave ... But in this case, could not the gray cardinal become the official leader? Perhaps yes, but it will be very difficult for him to overcome the habit of manipulating others in himself, since this problem is from the field of internal beliefs.

How to become SC?

But perhaps you have a different task ahead of you. You intend to dress yourself in a gray suit of an "underground worker". Andrei N., deputy HR director, tells how this is done: - Even the most prosperous company has its own pitfalls, currents, and sometimes even sunken submarines are found. Ours was no exception, I realized this almost immediately. And I decided to take a chance and embark on this underwater adventure full of dangers in search of, if not the treasures of the dead captains, then at least a better position, salary, and in the long run ... But more on that later.

After a month of work, I realized that none of the heads of departments, deputy chiefs and their deputies was going to retire, die or look for another job in the near future, and, therefore, there was nothing to think about moving up the career ladder by honest performance of their work. There was only one thing left - to become an informal leader. But how? Having applied all the knowledge gained at the institute and the experience of previous jobs, I developed an action plan, which I began to strictly follow. If you are in a similar situation, and you have no other opportunity to realize your ambitions, you can take it into service. As time has shown, I chose absolutely the right tactics.

Strategic plan for seizing power:

Finding a current informal leader (this is not difficult) or a gray cardinal (much more difficult). And ingratiate himself with him, or at least get his attention. How: To do this, you just need to run into him more often in a variety of situations, always provide him with small services, volunteer to carry out assignments.

Become an indispensable employee not only for your immediate boss, but also for his boss. How: Do a little more work than assigned, anticipate what else they can entrust, always be aware of what is happening in the team, with clients, with competitors, etc.

Gradually, but regularly, expand your powers, first capturing some of the capabilities of your colleagues, and then the boss. How: To replace the sick or gone on vacation, and after returning some of his most important powers to keep with him.

Make friends with people who enter the boss's office and have influence on him. How: Find out what they are interested in, addicted to, where they go, and start to be interested in the same things, visit the same places.

Copy the working style of your boss. How to: Work while the boss is working, wear the same style of dress, treat all other employees the same as possible.

Become a member and soul of an informal organization or association existing in the office. How: Actively participate in all their activities, offer your ideas on this topic.

Under no circumstances:

* get involved in the struggle of various bosses among themselves, in the most acute cases, take sick leave or vacation;
*demonstrate your real capabilities and power until the time comes;
* tell anyone anything compromising about yourself, better than nothing concrete at all;
* show how you really relate to the boss, and even more so to his boss;
* argue on important issues, while you can defend your opinion on trifles so as not to seem like a person,
completely without opinion.

I can guarantee that if you strictly follow these rules, then at the most in six months your position in your favorite office will change: regardless of your position, you will be treated first with caution, then attentively, then respectfully, then with caution, and then ... It all depends on you: if you want to seize power, you will. As for me personally, I did not miss such a pleasant opportunity. But most importantly, never take the struggle for informal leadership too seriously. It's just a game. Otherwise, instead of the mantle of the gray cardinal, you may get a straitjacket.

Literature "in the subject": D. McGovern "Martin Borman. Gray cardinal in brown uniform”, 2000, “Phoenix”;
V. Kraskov "Grey cardinals of the Kremlin", 1999, "Modern Writer"

So, the gray cardinal is exposed, convicted and expelled from the company. Now you can finally work in peace. Unless, during the righteous struggle, you have forgotten how to do this, and a new gray guard has not arisen around you, helping you in the struggle for sole leadership ... Although this is also not so scary, because now you know how to calculate the gray cardinal and how to get rid of him . And this occupation, as practice shows, is very exciting.