Elements of Leadership

What makes a great leader? Is charisma an essential characteristic? What about merit based on accomplishments? Are great leaders born, or are they self-made?

I asked BingCHAT about Leadership

Socrates and Aristotle are two of the most famous philosophers in history, and both have written extensively on a wide range of topics. While they did not write specifically on leadership, they did write about related topics that can be applied to leadership.

Socrates believed that the pursuit of wisdom and self-knowledge was the key to living a good life. He also believed that the best way to learn was through questioning and dialogue. These ideas can be applied to leadership, as a good leader should be constantly learning and seeking to improve themselves and their team. Socrates also believed in the importance of humility and self-awareness, which are important qualities for any leader to possess 1.

Aristotle, on the other hand, believed that the key to living a good life was to cultivate virtues such as courage, honesty, and compassion. He also believed that the best way to learn was through experience and practice. These ideas can also be applied to leadership, as a good leader should strive to embody these virtues and lead by example. Aristotle also believed in the importance of finding a balance between extremes, which is an important quality for any leader to possess 2.

While neither philosopher wrote specifically on leadership, their ideas on wisdom, self-knowledge, humility, self-awareness, virtues, and balance can all be applied to leadership in various ways.

Is Philosophy a practical field of study?

How many of the great philosophers of history were wealthy men?

How many great leaders of history were wealthy men or women?

These may be odd questions to most readers, but in our modern world, wealth seems to be a prerequisite to leadership. Great philosophical wisdom?, not so much.

With age comes wisdom?

When I hear a reference to “the wise man” of past communities, I always imagine an old man, never a young man! In families, the grandparents are usually the source of wisdom when their children undertake the challenges of raising their families.

Sometimes, however, the elderly are “out of touch” or “stuck in the past”. This seems more true today than at any time throughout history. Technological advances are to blame. The gap between the prevailing cultures of the late 20^th century and those of today’s Digital Society has build a moat between the “realities” of the young and old. Yesterday’s wisdom is today’s castoffs in many situations.

The gap between great thinkers of the ancient past and widely-acclaimed thinkers of today, such as Dr. Jordan Peterson, is also vast. Yet, ironically, “wise” men like Peterson continue to study the Bible and other sources of past philosophical perspectives in search of nuggets of wisdom that may apply today to contemporary societies and the styles of leadership within them.

The Great Wisdom of a Canadian Tycoon,

Yesterday, I wrote about an unheralded man of wisdom - Frank Stronach. He fits my image of a wise man.

Mr. Stronach is in his 80s. He possesses invaluable life experience from which to draw from his Well Of Wisdom. From humble beginnings as a new immigrant to Canada, he spent a lifetime of hard work, innovation and perseverance to become perhaps the most successful entrepreneur in Canadian history. Frank took a two-man tool & die business and transformed it into one of the largest, international automotive manufacturing corporations in the world.

He is a self-made leader. The millions of decisions Mr. Stronach has made - big and small -, and the results he has witnessed - good and bad - are the reasons why Canadians would be idiots if they ignored the wisdom of this great man.

It’s time for every Canadian to listen to the “wise men” among us if they are serious about building a great future for this country. Start my joining the Stronach Foundation today!