“Studying philosophy taught me two things: I learned how to write really clearly. … [+]
What is a leader? If David Attenborough and his film crew were stalking Manhattan and Silicon Valley on the set of his next nature documentary, how would they identify CEOs? Perhaps Wall Street's diamond-encrusted cufflinks and sharp suits? Or maybe it's Palo Alto's signature black turtleneck, jeans, and sneakers. But unfortunately, it's not that simple.
Leaders express themselves in a myriad of ways, and their appearance is not as uniform as, say, an alpha silverback gorilla. Because their leadership comes not from an innate physical advantage, but from an openness to new ideas and learning opportunities. What determines a leader is essentially a philosophical question, not a physiological question.
This may explain why many CEOs majored in philosophy.
Introducing managers who majored in philosophy
Billionaire hedge fund manager George Soros is a good example. Soros, who majored in philosophy at the London School of Economics in the 1950s, attributed part of his economic success to how concepts such as reflexivity can be understood – that is, how we understand our own emotions, reactions. , I attribute this to being able to examine my motives and understand how they influence my actions and thoughts in society. Situation – applies to economics.
“I've developed a conceptual framework that helps me both make money as a hedge fund manager and spend money as a policy-oriented philanthropist. But the framework itself is not about money, it's about thinking. and real-life relationships,” Soros wrote in the Financial Times.
He's a good friend. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn, considered by many to be one of the most ruthless men on Wall Street, published a paper titled “The Problem of Formulating an Adequate Account of the Empiric Semantic Criterion.'' He wrote and graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in philosophy.
Stewart Butterfield, CEO and co-founder of Slack, holds a BA and MA in Philosophy with a focus in Philosophy of Mind. In his own words, “By studying philosophy I learned two things about him: I learned how to write really clearly. I learned how to understand an argument all the way through. This taught me how to run a meeting. It is extremely valuable.”
Butterfield has applied these skills to building an easy-to-use knowledge management platform that is estimated to attract more than 47 million users daily by 2025.
Similarly, Eva Chen leveraged her background as a philosophy student at Taiwan's National Chengchi University into her role as CEO and co-founder of Trend Micro, a global market leader in cybersecurity software. Ta. Because she has no formal training as a software engineer, she can bring a new perspective to the company.
“I'm not the kind of CEO who puts on a poker face and acts like he knows everything. I keep asking why…maybe it's because I'm a woman, or maybe it's because I'm not an avid electronics engineer. I'm never afraid to ask stupid questions,'' she recalls.
According to Chief Development Officer Oscar Chan, this may be one of her greatest strengths as a leader: “She has a talent for seeing beyond what engineers can't see.”
Management is like a roller coaster
It is well established that studying the humanities provides leaders with important practical skills such as strong communication, critical thinking, and cultural awareness. But for Santiago Iñiguez, president of his IE University in Spain, the connection between management and philosophy runs even deeper.
“True managers are humble and continue to learn throughout their careers.” Santiago Iñiguez, President … [+]
“In management, which is a very pragmatic practice, I believe that behind every relevant management decision, behind the strategies that lead a company, behind the values and principles that guide the actions of executives, “I have always believed that there is a philosophy of .
“The important thing is for managers to reflect and try to understand what are the principles and values that guide their actions, so they can make better decisions.”
Yniguez draws on the teachings of philosophers throughout history, from the ancient Greeks Aristotle and Socrates to Ayn Rand and 17.th Baltasar Gracián, a Spanish cleric of the century, believes they all bring wealth to today's business leaders. But his voice is unmistakably his own, combining the wisdom of generations past with a sense of relevance drawn from the well of his own experience.
“Renew the shine.” “Excellence grows old, and so does fame,” Gracien said, and Yniguez added: “Excellence grows old, so does fame.” “Management is like a roller coaster, so you can't rest on your laurels. You have to perform well every day.” You have to prove you're valid, committed, and capable of being the best. It doesn't have to be. ”
In fact, the idea of ”renewing the sparkle” seems appropriate for IE University. IE University was established through the expansion and diversification of IE Business School, which now includes four schools covering Law, Architecture and Design, Politics and International Affairs. ,Science and technology. Last year, a new school with a focus on the humanities was announced.
“The expansion and diversification of IE Business School was a fascinating experience when I joined some 33 years ago. I was fortunate to be involved in the launch and creation of Equis, Europe's first business school accreditation system. I was able to participate and even participated in the creation of IE University 15 years ago,” Yniguez explains.
“I learned the importance of working in a team. I've been lucky because I've worked on the shoulders of giants.”
Pursuing happiness at work
In his latest book, Philosophy Inc.: Apping Wisdom to Everyday Management, Yniguez explains that Aristotle said, “Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, and the whole purpose and purpose of human existence.” I appreciate that I understood it correctly.
However, most people will spend most of their lives working. The Independent reports that the average Briton will work the equivalent of 3,507 days of work over their lifetime, including 204 days of overtime. The typical employee has six office romances, 812 workplace arguments, and makes 7,967 cups of tea or coffee for co-workers.
So is it possible to pursue happiness even on your way to the coffee machine? In Iniguez's view, yes.
“We probably enjoy our workplaces as a place where we can actually engage with other people, have fun, share moments of humor, and of course meet our colleagues and learn more about them. “They are social animals, so you should try to make it the best place possible,” he says.
“We need to know our colleagues deeply. That's why if we have to find happiness at work, it's not just about achieving professional goals, being well compensated, or being recognized by our colleagues. It's not just a matter of enjoying the time you spend at work.”
“You have to be open to different sources of learning. You have to keep your mind open. … [+]
Achieving this requires people to act with integrity, which Yniguez defines as a form of integrity. That includes being consistent in your beliefs, being respectful of your colleagues, understanding their concerns, and how you can help them both professionally and personally.
“It's not just about fulfillment. It leads to success and effective management. I believe that good managers are good professors because they teach their junior colleagues how to improve their performance. ” he says.
Avoiding the Charisma Trap
Socrates is often recognized as the father of Western philosophy. Ironically, one of his most well-known sayings is, “All I know is that I know nothing.”
This speaks to the value of humility, especially for those in leadership positions, and for IE University Presidents, it is essential to being able to find joy in the workplace. When pride enters the workplace, anxiety and blame usually sit side by side, neither of which contributes to a pleasant work environment.
Yniguez cautions against falling into the charisma trap of hiring based solely on the strength of a candidate's personality.
“Charismatic leaders are usually selfish. They are arrogant and don't listen to others. They talk fast. They are not the thoughtful leaders that many companies need,” he argues. do. “This is why we recommend that charisma not be the main characteristic when selecting candidates.”
In Philosophy magazine, Santiago Iñiguez writes that charismatic candidates show that they are unsuitable for the job by discrediting others, working briefly in different positions, or using flattery. It outlines some red flags. Several positive traits to note also testify to a candidate's management ability, such as a willingness to offer heartfelt praise and external recommendations from people who know the candidate well. .
But how should this be communicated in executive education, where participants have impressive resumes and extensive experience?
train your brain
Yniguez is focused on future growth potential. No matter how knowledgeable you are, there is always room for development, adjustment, and rethinking.
“You must be open to different sources of learning. You cannot achieve happiness or be successful in your profession unless you are open-minded. True managers are humble and continue to learn throughout their careers. ” he says.
This open-mindedness is at the heart of why philosophy is important for business leaders. There is a thought process behind every decision and interaction with colleagues and employees. The question is how well do you understand that thought process? How disciplined is your mind?
“As human beings, we have no choice in the fact that we need philosophy,” American author Ayn Rand told West Point graduates in 1974. Have a disciplined thought process and careful logical deliberation, or let your subconscious accumulate a junk pile of unwarranted conclusions. ”
The brain is a muscle that must be trained to tackle powerful ideas. For business leaders, this struggle is inevitable. As Yniguez explains, “Management is a practical philosophy.” The more you understand how people think, the easier it is to digest arguments and the faster you can act in situations that require a decisive response.
So what is a leader? They are practical philosophers and disciplined dreamers. Because every business begins with a dream. What was Apple before Steve Jobs and his co-founders brainstormed the idea in the mid-1970s? It was nothing more than the name of the fruit that famously fell on Newton's head.
