How Adopting a Stoic Mindset can Benefit an Organization

Stoics are sometimes stereotyped as lacking passion or interest. Nothing could be further from the truth. Real stoics have clearly defined priorities guided by their passions, and use those strongly-held beliefs and principles to anchor them in the face of adversity. A stoic mindset can benefit an organization by providing a model for decision-making and stress management. Employees who work in stress-free environments report that a peaceful workplace often leads to more creative thinking. Read on to discover how stoic, practical thinking can benefit any organization.

How is Stoicism Defined?

A person who meets difficulties in life with patience and acceptance may be described as stoic. Stoicism is a perspective on life that focuses on a few main principles designed to facilitate purposeful action. Stoicism teaches us that you must avoid placing importance on the more transient aspects of life, and instead focus on what really matters. Stoics also focus on the concept of acceptance, that every situation, whether good or bad, must be met with an attitude of openness.

How Can Organizations Avoid Irrational Decision Making

When practiced daily, stoicism can help business owners and their employees experience less anxiety and be more productive throughout the day. The principles of stoicism, when applied to leadership practices, allow organizations to make better decisions faster. Every task can benefit from this approach. Turning to this philosophy will allow employees  to achieve a better work-life balance and accomplish their career goals.

Applying Stoicism within Your Business

Errors in decision making, and their accompanying setbacks, are unavoidable when running a business. Say you’ve dedicated a year of your time to a marketing campaign that has produced less than favorable results. Instead of believing that your efforts have gone to waste, consider taking a stoic approach. Does this mean you should continue working on the campaign? If it is not showing the result you’re hoping for, you should consider scrapping or reworking the project. 

Allowing yourself to be devastated by negative results will only inhibit your growth. Don’t feel bound by your past decisions, or feel protective of ideas that haven’t given anything back to you. Instead, take every setback as a learning opportunity. Take stock of what you can gain from any experience, negative or positive, and move forward in a manner informed by those past failures or triumphs.

Focus on Effort Instead of Outcome

Placing high expectations on the outcome of a new campaign will only create paralyzing pressure and inhibit decision-making. Having a stoic mindset will foster your capacity for emotional control, and may actually improve your mental health in the long term. Entrepreneurs and employees who worry excessively about the outcome of every little decision will inevitably experience large amounts of unnecessary stress. 

With this in mind, setting emotions aside and never taking anything personally is the best way to reduce stress in the workplace. Facing a disaster with a stoic mindset will allow you to be more comfortable with the outcome and increase your effectiveness as a leader. Do your best, and bring out the best in those around you, without relying on a sense of desperation in order to lead your organization. The best leaders never let their emotions cloud the big picture, and use that clear vision to guide others with a balance of confidence and flexibility.