From Stoicism to Causing Effect in Strategy and Leadership

Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations introduced me to Stoicism.

At first, I was fascinated by the ideas. The concepts Stoics used to organize their lives made a lot of sense. Self-control, virtue and rationality as the path to living a good life are essential.

The Stoics believed that by mastering our responses to external circumstances, we could achieve inner peace, no matter what life throws at us. This approach helps achieve tranquility and resilience and develop inner strength despite life’s unpredictability.

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Knowing that we will die prompts us to focus on what truly matters.

And of course, they emphasized the importance of controlling our response to external factors since we can’t directly control them.

But why settle for a good life when you can create a spectacular one?

I find Stoicism somewhat restricting.

It’s almost like settling for what is and honing our response to it.

In a cause-and-effect relationship, if we follow the Stoic logic, we just end up dealing with the effects while assuming the causes are beyond our control.

I don’t agree with this. And I think quantum physics would back me up here when I say that we can become the cause. We can create the effects.

I think Stoicism could use a touch of Absurdism to add a little more fun to life.

Rather than thinking everything is random or happens for a reason, we can choose to see it as the result of a cause-and-effect relationship.

Now, if we don’t want to deal with certain effects, perhaps we should change the cause. Applied at individual and collective levels, this shift in thinking could create a very different reality in the world.

The same applies to founders and leaders.

You can architect the realities you want for your businesses and industries. Of course, this will require a multi-dimensional approach.

But let’s see how leaders can use Stoicism to stay relevant, become more resilient and grow more resourceful.

Leaders need to have a clear long-term vision and strategic intelligence to communicate this vision and to get their organizations on board.

Stoicism emphasizes the distinction between what we can control (our thoughts, beliefs and actions) and what we cannot (external events and other people's behavior). True freedom comes from focusing solely on what is within our power.

While incorporating this distinction into your mindset as a leader is important, it is not enough to realize your strategic vision and inspire others.

You want to succeed and you want your team to succeed. You want to win in your chosen playing field and for that, you will need to work with external factors and develop scenarios on how to handle them and cause a new reality into existence.

Just make sure your actions are rooted in purpose and virtue, for you’re leaving a legacy.

Stoics believe that virtue, which includes wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance, is the only true good. Everything else, including health, wealth and pleasure, is indifferent, neither inherently good nor bad.

In leadership, these virtues translate into ethical practices where leaders use compassion in their interactions with team members, taking their perspectives and emotions into account. They show support and encourage collaboration and innovation.

Leaders shape the culture of their organizations. By embodying ethical principles, you set an example for your team members who will begin to uphold the same values.

But, remember, while virtue is important, it won’t work if you are not healthy. Take care of your mental and physical well-being.

What differentiates successful leaders is,

• Their mindset

You face a myriad of challenges, from within your systems and from the external world.

Stoicism asks you to embrace adversity as an inevitable part of the journey. Instead of succumbing to frustration, treat them as opportunities for growth and learning. See challenges as natural and often beneficial.

Include anticipation for challenges in your strategic plan.

It will help you develop resilience and enable the same within your teams. With this proactive approach, you’ll increase your chances of success.

• And rational decision-making ability

Leaders are expected to make sound decisions, often under pressure, while considering multiple perspectives and weighing short-term impacts against long-term outcomes.

Great leaders are decisive yet flexible in their execution.

Stoicism asks you to control what you can and let go of what you can’t. This clarity allows you to make decisions rooted in logic rather than emotional reactions.

When in crisis, with Stoicism in your arsenal, you will calmly assess the situation, consider all available options and choose a course of action that aligns with ethical considerations and reason.

You will set an example and build trust among team members and stakeholders, creating a culture of transparency and integrity.

Remember wisdom comes from experience and the integration of mistakes. It takes courage to fail and admit those mistakes. It takes a strong leader to lead with justice regardless of the situation.

Since Stoicism asks you to be resilient in adversity, make rational decisions, embody ethical virtues and exercise temperance, it makes you a beacon of strength inspiring your teams to adapt, innovate and thrive in uncertainty.

In today’s complex world, choose to lead with courage, wisdom and purpose.

Join me for more reflections on how art, science, philosophy, and spirituality intersect in strategy and leadership in next week’s edition. #alchemyinsystems