Publication number: ELQ-33056-1
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How to Be Wise When Smart is not Enough
Wise leaders are authentic. Today learn the basic principles that are key to making wise, as well as smart decisions.
Introduction
Most of the entrepreneurs I have met are smart, but many are not always wise. That means they may show great insights into a new technology that has marginal business value, their passion may motivate team members more than customers, or they may allow themselves to be pulled over the ethical line in their success drive. Wise leaders are authentic, timeless, and enduring.
Of course, experience is the ultimate teacher of the differences between smart and wise. But none of us can afford to make that many mistakes, so it helps to understand the basic principles that are key to making wise, as well as smart, decisions. In their classic book on the subject, “From Smart to Wise,” Prasad Kaipa and Navi Radjou offer some great observations, based on their years of research and consulting experience with hundreds of leaders.
I’ve summarized their basic principles here, in the context of early-stage entrepreneurs and startups, in the hope of providing a head start, and fewer mistakes to recover from, for every entrepreneur:
- Step n°1 |
Broaden your perspective for your passion, to the greater good.
Perspective is what defines us, and shapes our thoughts and actions. For technologists it drives the passion to take new ideas to new realities. Wise leaders tend to connect their worldview and ideas, to help everyone find a larger meaning in life. Steve Jobs espoused this principle.
- Step n°2 |
Act authentically and appropriately as your perspective changes.
Wise entrepreneurs are sensitive to the context they operate in and fine-tune their actions accordingly, while continuing to serve their higher purpose. They never forget their moral compass, and maintain credibility by always bridging the saying-versus-doing gap.
