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Tag: Inspiration (Page 1 of 2)

Lessons for business leaders from ancient philosophers

Ancient philosophers can teach business leaders how to help employees live better and reach eudaimonia.

The article “What can business leaders learn from ancient Greek philosophers?” (http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/business-learn-from-ancient-philosophers) describes some techniques used by ancient philosophers which can help achieve the “good life”:

  • Dare to disagree (Socrates)
  • Let people seek fulfillment (Aristotle)
  • Be a good role model (Plutarch)
  • Build a resilient mid-set (Epictetus)
  • Keep track of your ethical progress (Rufus)
  • The art of happiness (Epicurus)

Bearing the unbearable: approaching “GAMAN” to take on new challenges

Understanding one of the most important skills of a Japanese warrior, or “samurai”, can improve our daily life, including our attitude towards apparently unsolvable issues.

This skill is called “gaman”, a word that can be translated as “patience”, “endurance”, “perseverance” and which deals with the capacity of living “without complaint whatever problem may throw in your path”.

“Gaman” is a fundamental aspect of  the samurai’s code of life, or “bushido”,  but it is not necessary to fully practice this tough philosophy in order to experiment a truly fulfilling “gaman attitude”.

Broadly speaking, something similar can be found even in Western societies: ancient Romans, for instance, used to practice self-conditioning by following the stoical conduct of enduring hardship without a word of complaint.

Nevertheless, it is even unnecessary to face pain or disasters in order to experiment “gaman”.

In fact, a simple and achievable “gaman-ese” code of conduct can be summed up by 5 tips, useful to face our daily issues:

1- Stay consistent

2 – Set small goals for yourself, and achieve them

3- Take your time

4- Be human, with dignity

5 – Breathe!

More about GAMAN here

 Image Source: Flickr – Alliance russe (CC BY 2.0)

Leadership: Ten lessons from Steve Jobs

Leadership is an important function of management which helps to maximize efficiency and to achieve organizational goals.

All successful organizations and businesses need effective leaders.

The leadership of effective and well trained leaders is paramount to providing an agreed upon goal for the company’s success. Leaders are invaluable when it comes to formulating and communicating new strategic directions, as well as communicating with and motivating employees to increase dedication to organizational goals.

Ongoing leadership skills training is essential to making sure that leaders are on the right track.

In this article, there are some tips provided by Steve Jobs, founder of Apple and iconic leader, who invented the Macintosh computer for the masses and started a revolution of the idea  of the smart information technologies.

Under the watch of Steve Jobs, Apple was one of the most successful companies in history.

His beliefs set him apart from Western leaders and allowed him to focus on vision rather than reality. Spirituality combined with intensity allowed him to “think different” or imagine a new order of things. The “think different” philosophy embraces the need for simplication, innovation, confidence, collaboration, rebellion.

The 10 Lessons of Steve Jobs are excerpts from Walter Isaacson’s, “The Real Lessons of Steve Jobs,” published in the Harvard Business Review, April 2012.

Read more.

 

leadership

 

Image source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Followership.png

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