Wisdom From Three Stoics for Leaders
The Stoics are popular today because they believed in self-development, resilience, and focusing on things within your control.
Wisdom from the Stoics for Leaders:
The reason learning is hard:
Life is hard when you learn slowly.
“Throw out your conceited opinions, for it is impossible for a person to begin to learn what he thinks he already knows.” Epictetus, Discourses, 2.17.1
That clicking sound you hear is the sound of everyone’s brain turning off when you show up with all the answers.
You learn when you ask questions.
Application: Show up stupid.
Keep track of how many questions you ask in conversations. Set a goal to begin and end conversations with a question.
Begin conversations with, “What would you love to take away from our conversation?” End with, “What’s your takeaway from our conversation?”
Don’t let brilliance prevent learning. Debono said it best, “Those who think they know, don’t.”
The path to tranquility:
People who can’t say no live frantic lives.
“If you seek tranquility, do less. Or (more accurately) do what’s essential.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.22.
High aspiration people squander their talent by doing too much.
Application: Help people identify essentials.
When people feel stressed ask, “What do you need to stop?”
Refocus on the big picture when people feel confused. “What are you trying to achieve?”
Help the overwhelmed by asking, “What’s one thing you can do today to move the agenda forward?”
The reluctance to confessing faults:
Denial and defensiveness indicate blind spots.
“Why will no man confess his faults? Because he is still in their grasp…” Seneca, Letters from a Stoic, #LII.
Application: They might be right.
When someone hints you have a fault ask yourself, “How might this be right?” Or “What am I doing that led someone to think this?”
Which bit of wisdom from the Stoics would you love leaders to embrace today?
Which bit of wisdom from the Stoics are you already practicing? How has it helped you?
Still curious:
3 Surprising Quotes from Sir Edmund Hillary that Contradict Established Thinking
…that clicking sound of brains turning off… Love this, and a good reminder!!! Also find that asking questions is great when it comes to relationship building; how else do we know what is important to others and where they are in their journey… Thanks Dan!!
You make an important point, Susan. Asking how people are doing/feeling lets them know you are interested in them. (Assuming we’re genuine.)
Thanks for the food for thought today.
Q: Which bit of wisdom from the Stoics are you already practicing? How has it helped you?
A: I don’t know the source of this (Stoicism or other), but I’ve stopped answering statements.
Practically speaking, after someone finishes a comment and looks expectantly for an answer, I’ll reply with something like “That’s an interesting comment.” or “Thanks for sharing that. Are you asking me for something or sharing information?”. This has saved me many headaches as I don’t have to pick up someone else’s issue.
There is so much to learn from the Stoics, particularly those three. I struggle with blind spots on the regular. Thanks for the reminder!
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” – Epictetus
It is difficult for many to grasp the idea that no matter what happens, you have the ability to choose your response. I have met people that absolutely refuse to accept this idea. They blame others for their emotions and reactions. This leads to a feeling of helplessness. I understand that the extreme this is a challenging concept. But nonetheless, it is true.
Help people ( including myself )identify essentials. It is all too easy to get caught up in dramas , victimhood and rants about world conditions. Being mindful enough to pause and determine what is winding us up and doing what we can in the now makes life so much easier. Thanks as always for your practical, helpful approach to leading and learning. Positively,Pauline
Leadership Freak’s discussion on Stoic wisdom for leaders resonates well with my personal path. I once encountered a difficult leadership circumstance that put my perseverance to the test. Drawing inspiration from Stoic concepts, I developed an accepting mentality and focused on what I could control, allowing me to manage the difficulty with grace. Echelon Front’s suggested reading list contains works that explore Stoic philosophy and leadership, providing useful insights for leaders looking to build a Stoic attitude. For additional information on this subject, see https://echelonfront.com/books/.