Character and Leadership: Ancient Wisdom for the 21st Century

Abstract

This paper is inspired by the sentiments of Winston Churchill, “The further back you can look, the farther
forward you are likely to see.” Notwithstanding all the work and intellectual efforts by current scholars
and practitioners on the topic of good leadership and good character, there is much to be learned by
drawing from the ancient philosophical tradition, notably Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Simply said, it is
critically important that we learn from and apply the wisdom of the ancients to the current thoughts and
practices as to how character and leadership are acquired and developed. The timeless wisdom of the
ancients is even more relevant today given the ever-increasing pace, complexity and uncertainty faced
by individuals, organizations and societies.