Leadership is especially challenging today—and there are plenty of opinions about what it takes to be a great leader. At the top of the list of recommendations for brilliant leadership is to be a wise leader. And new research suggests exactly what wisdom means in leadership—and how to demonstrate more wisdom more of the time.
It’s a critical question today. With the increasing uncertainty, competition and intensity in the world—and with the shifts in the landscape of work—your ability lead is critical in managing yourself as well as motivating people, engaging them and driving results.
But what does it mean to be wise, and how can you be perceived as a wise leader?
Why You Need to Be a Wise Leader
There are several reasons why you need wisdom. Perhaps surprisingly, you’ll be less lonely and more physically healthy, but you’ll also be more satisfied and fulfilled.
Importantly, people crave strong leaders today and when leaders are wise, they generate trust and credibility—and they create positive experiences for people while they’re driving outcomes and results for organizations.
What It Means to Be a Wise Leader
Essentially, you need two factors to be perceived as wise. First, you need a pragmatic, reflective orientation—in which you think before acting, control emotions and apply knowledge. You also need an empathetic, other orientation—in which you are attentive to others and open to their perspectives. This is according to new global research published in the Nature Communications journal.
Importantly, the research compared cross cultural opinions on wisdom and these characteristics stayed consistent across all eight cultures the study explored.
In addition, both the pragmatic orientation and the empathetic orientation are important to perceptions about wisdom. For example, those who are empathetic, without also being pragmatic, weren’t perceived as wise.
You can increase your wisdom—or others’ perceptions of your wisdom by acting in specific ways.
To Be a Wise Leader, Be Pragmatic and Reflective
Based on the research, you’ll need to ensure you’re taking a pragmatic and reflective approach to what’s happening and what needs to be done.
1. Recognize the Need for Change
First, you’ll need to stay attuned to context and recognize the need for change. There is always a lot going on—and the speed of change can be overwhelming.
But to be wise, you’ll need to stay aware of circumstances and determine when change is necessary.
2. Manage Your Emotions
Fear is rampant today with 88%-61% of people globally who distrust leaders, and who are afraid of everything from information war to geopolitical issues. In addition, most leaders lack confidence—with only 30% of leaders who feel confident about leading through change.
But to be wise, you’ll need to manage your emotions—in spite of distrust, fear or lack of confidence. Stay calm, maintain composure and do your best to get through tough situations.
3. Think Before Acting
Another major element of wisdom is to manage your thinking process and think before acting. In fact, the research shows that you’ll need to consider multiple options, think logically and apply your previous knowledge and experience.
This is a fundamental element of problem solving, design thinking and innovative processes. Rather than jumping to conclusions or acting impulsively, you’ll need to consider what’s worked in the past, assess options and think things through.
To be wise, you’ll need to evaluate multiple options, apply plenty of logic and ensure you’re making a good decision before taking action.
To Be a Wise Leader, Be Empathetic and Open
Also based on the research, the second big aspect of wisdom is your ability to focus on others and behave with empathy as well as humility.
4. Demonstrate Empathy
Wise leaders care about others’ feelings. They are empathetic. In fact, empathy is one of the most important leadership skills. When leaders demonstrate empathy it’s good for people and business in all kinds of ways—from greater happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction to greater innovation, retention and productivity.
With cognitive empathy, you imagine what others might be thinking. And with emotional empathy, you imagine what others may be feeling. In either case, you’re not taking on people’s pain or struggles, but paying attention, asking questions, offering support and suggesting resources.
To be wise, you’ll need to consider others’ thoughts and feelings and care about their experiences.
5. Demonstrate Intellectual Humility
Another aspect of the research suggests that intellectual humility is important to being perceived as wise. With this factor, you have a belief that you don’t have the best answer or all the answers. You recognize that your opinion is one of many, and there is value in taking others perspectives into account. In addition, there are benefits to admitting mistakes and realizing you’re fallible.
In fact, you can build both credibility and trust as a leader when you successfully balance confidence, competence and a strong point of view with an understanding of your own fallibility.
To be wise, be humble and ask for help when you need it.
6. Be Open to Others’ Perspectives
An openness to others’ perspectives flows naturally from intellectual humility. When you realize you don’t have all the answers—you are more likely to value the input of others.
The key is to invite others into the conversation and demonstrate appreciation for multiple perspectives. Ask people how they see things and whether you’re missing something. Expand the circle of people you interact with—and be intentional about increasing the diversity of people who influence you.
To be wise, ask for others’ input and respect diverse options, so you can get to the best outcomes.
Be a Wise Leader
Greater wisdom and wise leaders, in particular, are especially critical today—because the world is shifting—and the landscape of work is changing significantly.
People crave strong leaders, and you can be a wise leader by being pragmatic, reflective, empathetic and open—and you’ll in turn create the best conditions for people and organizations.