Stoic principles to guide leaders: Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations" contains valuable lessons that can help guide success in organizations and teams.

• Author: Miller, Derek

A NEW CLASS OF LEADERS is selected each year through nominations, contests, and ceremonies. These come in various forms or lists, but ultimately the goal is to bring people together and foster a commitment to the whole. After all, great leaders usually have the potential to fall prey to Lord Acton's dictum, "All power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." The premise is that leaders will accumulate power or influence, and we must guard against incorrect use or unrighteous dominion. One of the great examples of what may be called stoic leadership comes from the life of Marcus Aurelius, one of the last "Five Good Emperors" of the Roman Empire.

His diary remains a window into the leadership thoughts and struggles of one of the most powerful men in history. These Meditations contain valuable lessons that can help guide success in organizations and teams.

PUT THE HIVE FIRST

"That which isn't good for the hive isn't good for the bee." --Meditations 6.54

One foundation of stoicism is the notion that everything is connected, which means the opposite can also be true. Aurelius pointed out that if it doesn't hurt the community, it can't hurt the individual. Utah carries the symbol of the beehive because we believe in hard work and collaborating for the common good. This principle holds for an organization or team as well--if it isn't good for your company, it isn't good for you. Putting the hive first or keeping the community's best interest in mind can make individual decisions simpler. Our commitment to rugged individualism can remain, but it cannot be devoid of how it may impact the larger hive. After all, no bee is an island.

ALWAYS BE INTENTIONAL

"No random actions, none not based on underlying principles." --Meditations 4.2

The notion of no random acts unveils much insight into what actions go with proper planning for success. Have you ever felt a meeting go sideways or watched a team fall behind and be unable to overcome that challenge? Everyone will face uncertainty and unexpected developments in business and life, but having an intentional game plan thought out beforehand is a prerequisite for success. Think of it this way: proper planning and visualization...