At the Larsen Leaders Academy, the influence of great philosophers like Socrates and Marcus Aurelius is deeply rooted in our leadership development framework. We ask our students to form an ethical leadership core consisting of professional integrity, a servant mindset, trustworthiness and humility. We can learn much about humility by examining the great philosophers — both ancient and contemporary.
Recently, Dr. Tom Morris, a modern-day philosopher and author of Socrates in Silicon Valley and If Aristotle ran General Motors, visited the Larsen Leaders Academy at Purdue and shared his thoughts on humility and how the great philosophical thinkers have informed leadership over time.
Sometimes success can cause us to focus on our own achievements. Indeed, some might see personal accomplishment as an indicator of leader effectiveness. Yet ambition can often distract us, causing us to lose sight of the big picture (a meaningful purpose and the people who will inevitably help us to achieve it).
I was fortunate to sit down with Dr. Morris and ask him about this critical aspect of a leader — namely, humility. He reminds us that purpose, people and humility are closely intertwined. Leaders with the self-awareness to recognize these linkages will likely be the ones that followers call “great leaders.”
Brad Alge
Managing Director
Larsen Leaders Academy
