13 September 2025
Anna Rosdahl, Senior Consultant
Many new leaders’ step into their roles with strong commitment and a genuine desire to make a difference. At the same time, they quickly encounter a reality shaped by high pace, conflicting expectations, and increasing complexity. Decisions must be made quickly, relationships need attention, and results are expected – often all at once.
In this context, leadership is tested early. Not only technical skills, but judgement, presence, and the ability to take responsibility in a sustainable way. It is easy, then, to look for more tools, more models, and more methods.
But sometimes we need to do the opposite. Slow down. Simplify. And return to what shapes good leadership in practice.
In this article, I explore how Stoic philosophy – developed for leadership under uncertainty – can offer timeless support for leaders today and in the future.
At Mannaz, we have long emphasised that sustainable leadership is not primarily about techniques or methods, but about self-leadership – the ability to lead oneself in order to lead others. This perspective becomes especially clear when pressure increases and room for manoeuvre feels limited.
My experience is that leaders who take responsibility for their inner leadership also create stability around them. They reflect on their reactions, are more aware of their drivers, and understand how their way of acting affects others. Self-insight and reflection do not sit beside leadership – they become part of it.
When we look more closely at Stoic philosophy, it becomes clear that this is not a modern invention. It is timeless wisdom, developed for people who lived and led in uncertain and demanding contexts – and who therefore needed a robust inner framework.
Stoicism emerged in ancient Greece and Rome, in societies marked by political instability, rapid change, and high expectations of those in positions of responsibility. It was a philosophy rooted in everyday life rather than abstract theory, aimed at people who needed to make decisions without full control over outcomes.
When we read the writings of Stoics such as Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus, we do not encounter ready-made answers about how the world ought to be. Instead, we meet a continuous effort to act wisely in the world as it is – with all its limitations and uncertainties.
What unites them is a consistent focus on judgement and responsibility. Again and again, they return to questions such as what lies within our control, how we can meet adversity without becoming passive, and how we can make decisions we can stand by even when outcomes are uncertain. Stoicism offers no promise of control, but it trains our stance toward whatever we face.
When we consider the four central Stoic virtues – courage, moderation, justice, and wisdom – the connection to modern leadership becomes clear. These are not abstract ideals, but capacities expressed through action: in how decisions are made, how relationships are handled, and how responsibility is carried over time.
We never lead in isolation. How we act in one meeting influences the tone of the next. How we handle uncertainty shows others what is possible and acceptable. Our calm – or our stress – travels quickly through the system.
This is where Stoicism’s focus on self-leadership meets a more systemic view of leadership. Stoicism starts with the individual, but it does not end there. It helps us understand our place in a wider whole, and how our actions contribute to broader patterns of relationships, decisions, and responsibility.
I do not believe that the future of leadership will primarily be shaped by more models or faster methods. I believe it will be shaped by our ability to pause, reflect, and act with judgement in an increasingly complex reality.
For me, sustainable leadership ultimately comes down to responsibility – for our decisions, our relationships, and our own long-term sustainability. Perhaps that is why the most important leadership questions are still the oldest ones:
What truly matters? What can I influence? And how do I want to lead – as a human being?
Stoicism is not a philosophy meant to be understood only intellectually. It was developed as a practice – something to train in daily life, step by step. Below are five simple exercises inspired by Stoic philosophy that can support everyday leadership.
Exercise 1: The circle of control (2 minutes)
Ask yourself:
Purpose: reduce stress, increase agency
When: before a decision, after a meeting
Exercise 2: Evening reflection (5 minutes)
Purpose: learning without self-criticism
When: at the end of the workday
Exercise 3: The pause before responding
When something triggers you:
take a breath, count to three, and ask yourself which response aligns with your values.
Purpose: better decisions under pressure
When: difficult conversations, conflict, stress
Exercise 4: One thing at a time
Choose one task. Complete it without interruptions and with full attention.
Purpose: focus, quality, calm
When: daily, in small doses
Exercise 5: The character question
Ask yourself: How do I want to be as a leader in this situation?
Not what delivers the fastest result, but what feels right to stand by.
Purpose: values-based leadership
When: decisions with human impact
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