We don't have to be presidents, prime ministers, CEOs, or army officers to be leaders. It may or may not be our choice, but we are often put in positions which require us to lead: as heads of households, as parents, as senior persons at work, as project leads, as someone who knows the way to a destination, and so on.

How should a Stoic lead?

The best answer I could come up with was: Be a good Stoic, and lead naturally. If you do, you will be a good leader. Stoicism emphasizes resilience, rationality, and virtue as guiding principles for life. The same applies to leadership. The teachings of Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca provide timeless insights into the qualities of effective leaders. The qualities that make us good Stoics will also make us good Stoic leaders.

What are these qualities?

1. Be effective

A leader tries to be effective. However, life is unpredictable, so are people. You may do the best you know how to under the circumstances, but things will happen to upset your plans. From time to time, things will go out of control. There will be unintended consequences, no matter how well you plan and execute the plan. How should a Stoic deal with situations like these?

One of the foundational tenets of Stoicism provides the answer: confine your actions to what you can control, ignoring things you cannot do anything about.

Some things are in our control and others not. [...] If you think you can control things over which you have no control, then you will be hindered and disturbed. You will start complaining and become a fault-finding person. But if you deal with only those things under your control, no one can force you to do anything you don't want to do; no one can stop you. You will have no enemy, and no harm will come to you.   - Epictetus, Encheiridion 1

How does this principle work in a leadership situation? Here is an example. Ernest King was a fleet admiral in the U.S. Navy and served as the Commander in Chief during WWII. What was his attitude in case one of his ships sank?

"I have supplied the best men with the best equipment we have, and have given them what seems to be the wisest mission. That is all I can do. If a ship has been sunk, I can't bring it up. If it is going to be sunk, I can't stop it. I can use my time much better working on tomorrow's problem than by fretting about yesterday's."

Stoic leaders focus their energy on their own decisions and actions while accepting external circumstances as they are. They are interested in what they can control rather than worrying about things they can do nothing about.
Leaders who internalize this wisdom can maintain composure during crises by directing their attention toward actionable solutions rather than dwelling on uncontrollable factors.

2. Be guided by a moral compass

There are different leadership styles. There are those whose leadership is transactional: "Is this transaction to my advantage?" Transactional leaders often put immediate advantages ahead of more thoughtful considerations.
Stoicism takes a different approach to leadership. It emphasizes the importance of integrity in decision-making. For this purpose, Stoics use the four cardinal virtues—wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance—as a moral framework for leadership:

• Is this wise?
• Is this just?
• Is this balanced?
• Is this courageous?

A transactionally advantageous decision may not be wise (it may not work in the long term), or just (it may exploit those who are powerless), or balanced (it may go to extremes), or courageous (if it is done out of fear). If so, a Stoic would refrain from making that decision.

If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 12.17

Courage enables leaders to confront challenges head-on while maintaining their commitment to justice and fairness. When a leader uses a moral compass, leadership becomes principled, rather than transactional.

3. Act with integrity

Related to being guided by a moral compass is the idea of integrity. Because a Stoic leader uses a moral compass, they do not act randomly. This lies at the heart of Stoic leadership.

Don't act randomly. Do things the right way by understanding the principles behind them. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.1

A Stoic leader does not do what is expedient if it is not the right thing to do.

4. Be prepared

A Stoic knows that anything can happen because we are surrounded by things over which we have no control. Therefore, a Stoic leader expects the unexpected and does not use it as an excuse.

The wise...anticipate all that can happen as human beings, and reflect that whatever can happen to a human can happen to them too. - Seneca, Moral Letters, 91

So a Stoic leader is always prepared to face the unexpected.

5. Be willing to stand corrected

Because a Stoic leader relies on rational decisions, they will stand by them. But that applies only if their initial decisions are faultless. On occasions when their decisions are found to be flawed, they won't be too proud to change course.

As the most powerful leader of his time, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, said:

If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change; for I seek the truth. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 6.21

If this is true of Marcus Aurelius, how much more should it apply to others?

6. Persevere through adversity

A Stoic knows that facing adversity is part of life. Adversity is external and therefore beyond our control. So while they may not seek adversity, they are not defeated by it. As Seneca says:

We ought to move and not to become frozen and still by fear. No, he is the best man who, though peril menaces him on every side and arms and chains beset his path, nevertheless neither impairs nor conceals his virtue; for to keep oneself safe does not mean to bury oneself. - Seneca, On the Tranquility of Mind, 5

Adversity provides an opportunity to practice our leadership and become a better Stoic, a better person, and a better leader.

You have seen all that [adversity]. Now look at this. Your part is to be serene, to be simple… … Life is short. Get as much as you can from each passing hour. - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.26

Leaders who embrace challenges as learning experiences can inspire their teams to innovate and persevere through adversity.

7. Be a team player

A good leader does not complain about their followers. A general does not blame their army for failure.

The wise do not complain about what they don't have but rejoice in what they do. - Epictetus, Discourses, 1.6

A Stoic leader also knows that we are all born to work together like our hands and feet. Therefore, they celebrate teamwork and do not pass blame onto others. They are grateful to their followers.

8. Learn continuously

The pursuit of wisdom is an ongoing journey for Stoics.

As long as you live, keep learning how to live.     - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 7.51
Leaders who dedicate themselves to continuous improvement remain adaptable in fast-changing environments.

Conclusion

Stoic principles applied to leadership offer timeless wisdom for navigating the complexities of modern organizations. This enduring philosophy reminds us that true leadership lies in self-mastery and virtuous action—a lesson as relevant today as it was in ancient Rome. By focusing on what they can control, cultivating virtues, responding thoughtfully to challenges, leading with integrity, practicing gratitude, and committing to lifelong learning, leaders can inspire trust and resilience among their followers, formal or informal.

Chuck Chakrapani

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