Literature as a Mirror for Leadership

Contemporary philosophers and pedagogues such as Martha Nussbaum, Richard Rorty and Jill Kerr Conway believe in narrative ethics. They consider that the spiritual self can be approached through literature. While philosophy argues and teaches, literature demonstrates. Narratives hold up a mirror and confront the reader with an ‘otherness’ that questions otherwise self-evident norms and values. This paper focuses on examining three literary models that could help entrepreneurs and leaders to reflect on their positions and to make choices that are more conscious. The fable has its roots in popular tradition. Fables from different cultures often have similar messages, and they are by nature didactic. The story, often told through an animal protagonist, demonstrates a proof, while a saying recapitulates a message in a nutshell. The fable promotes practical wisdom by associating concrete activities with general rules. A novel, however, is far more complex. Novels can provide a broad panoramic view of society, politics and economics, and enhance our awareness of life’s opportunities. By reading novels, a reader develops the capacity to see the world through another person’s eyes. An autobiography is situated at the border of fiction. Reading about other people’s lives holds a specific attraction; it involves a process of continuous reflection about our own existence.