Yesterday, I attended an ESADE Alumni session out of curiosity. The title immediately caught my eye: “Greatness of spirit: an essential dimension in executive development.” I absolutely loved it! While global rates like schooling and longevity have improved, serious threats still loom. If we do not act soon, the future looks bleak. Here are a few reflections:
On our behaviors
We often let emotional messages sweep us away. This overrides our ability to reason and discern. As a result, we fail to act for the common good, looking past our own selfish interests.
We cannot escape this superficiality without creating spaces to cultivate our inherent dignity. We must ask the big questions. These are not scientific, but deeply humanistic. Discover how to step onto this path and lead with a fresh perspective. Learn to develop highly humanistic teams where everything makes sense. It is truly worth it!
Battles we must fight to nurture greatness of spirit
These battles take place in our minds and emotions. Real progress only comes when we break free from our golden cages. To do this, we must challenge deeply ingrained beliefs and traditions.
The biggest mistake blocking our greatness of spirit
Our biggest obstacle to progress is our closed-mindedness. To sustain ourselves and our organizations, we must realize how everything is connected. We need to reclaim our values. We must practice seeing the world through a holistic lens. Today, young and old alike feel deeply disoriented. Many now speak of a “quarter-life crisis.”
In my view, the worst part is that we are normalizing deep discontent. The resulting anxiety isolates us. It drives us further into a digital world that mirrors superficial lifestyles and work models.
Beyond competent: truly human
We need courage to take action. We must transform our lives step by step by dreaming first and then working to build our future. Let us find our greatness of spirit. It is what makes us human. Do not settle for less!
During my days as a senior executive, I would have loved to experience these initiatives. Of course, not every company would have welcomed them. Today, as an entrepreneur, I am proud to offer these very programs. We do this with deep conviction, looking at life and work with fresh eyes. This new perspective is finally gaining ground in more and more organizations.
