Leaders, elephants and wisdom

The quality of leaders in organisations directly impacts their revenues - research backs this statement repeatedly. Harvard Business School found that companies?with leaders who achieve high character scores have an average return on assets five times higher than those with low character scores.

But what does a leadership character actually mean??

HBS research suggests it "exists in the space between the individual’s values and morals and the key activities facing any leader" and especially decision making.

Researchers have identified 7 leadership character traits or "super-powers":

1. Integrity
2. Self-awareness
3. Determination
4. Empathy
5. Courage
6. Optimism
7. Curiosity/open-mindedness

These are undoubtedly important qualities for leaders to cultivate. But it feels that something is missing... And it's an elephant!

Wisdom

In its proto germanic roots, the word "wisdom" means to see, to know but also to show. In Norwegian we still say "? vise" meaning "to show". This word carries the idea of having knowledge, insight, understanding and making sound judgments. It also carries the ability to show others the direction.

Also, we often refer to it as Elephant wisdom. Elephants are known for their social intelligence and ability to navigate complex environments. By associating wisdom with elephants, we emphasize the notion of acquiring knowledge and insight through experience, resilience, adaptability, and the ability to understand the nuances of human nature and complex situations. Therefore, "elephant wisdom" symbolizes the depth and breadth of wisdom that comes from life's challenges and experiences.

I've explored several reputable sources for top leadership qualities and, surprisingly, I have not seen wisdom in any of them... Perhaps because it is something difficult to transmit, to teach. What kind of leadership development programmes can teach wisdom? None you would say. One needs to experience things and experience takes time.

However, leaders have never been so young and inexperienced in our organisation! If we can't wait for them to grow old, is there a shortcut to grow their wisdom? An accelerated way to learn it?

To become wise, one must "experience the street"

I believe that leadership character is forged in adversity, so is wisdom. Be it in real life or in the classroom, leadership maturity does not come from MOOCs or TED talks.

I really appeciated the statement by Irina Khakamada, who ran for the Russian presidency in 2004 and is one of the most respected businesswomen in Russia. When asked about how to attain wisdom, she suggested that one must experience the "street." As a business advisor, she encountered incredibly wise and experienced leaders in their 20th, many of whom had faced adversity and challenges early in life. Some of them even grew up on the streets.

Leadership development and wisdom

I believe that when it comes to leadership development, it is insufficient to simply place individuals in a safe environment with lectures on human-centred, servant, responsible, or other forms of virtuous leadership. As the world undergoes an unparalleled transformation, it will demand wise leaders who possess a profound understanding of human nature and instincts.?This understanding or "wisdom" is acquired through enduring experiences that test our resilience and character.

Many of the most admired leaders in the world went through hardship: Mahatma Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Alexey Navalny, Oprah Winfrey, Simone Weil and so many more. While we are not asking sacrifices from leaders in our organisations, we still need to find a way to simulate challenging experiences to develop their resilience and leadership maturity.

Organizations must establish conditions that foster the growth of wise leaders. These leaders need to be exposed to situations that allow them to confront their inner fears, comprehend their actions under stress, and develop a sharp awareness of their blind spots. Often referred to as stretch exercises within organizations, these experiences should be designed as bold, real-life challenges.

Leadership is a contact sport

"Leadership is also a contact sport," as famously stated by Marshall Goldsmith. Leaders must learn to effectively read the room, comprehend others' emotions and sentiments, and adapt their behavior to connect with others. While it may be easy during casual lunch meetings with prospects, the real challenge arises when negotiating deals under extreme circumstances. In this context, it was captivating to hear from Patrick Remords about the KGB style commercial negotiation practices from the past. Have a look at the Kremlin School of Negotiation if interested to know more about hard negotiations. Such exemples show the complexity and demands of leadership in high-stakes situations.

We have often witnessed individuals undergoing a complete transformation when subjected to high levels of stress. While far from pleasant, it is in these circumstances that true leadership is revealed. When individuals confront situations involving heightened stress, danger, and urgency, their character is put to the test. A revealing example of this is Volodymyr Zelensky, whose physical and mental transformation has been palpable since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I will have an opportunity to write a post on Zelensky's leadership character. It serves as a powerful illustration of how leadership character is shaped in adversity, but also how fragile and imperfect it can be.

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Do you believe that wisdom can be fostered through leadership programs? Perhaps you are aware of examples or experiences that can create these distinctive learning opportunities, shaping leadership character. I would greatly appreciate your insights on this matter!