At the Authentic Leadership Foundation, our mission is to guide young individuals on their unique journey to greatness. A pivotal part of this journey involves reviving a powerful yet often overlooked concept: the virtue of magnanimity.
First of all, let’s define magnanimity or “greatness of soul.” It is a virtue (moral habit) of contemplation and action that recognizes the 1) greatness of oneself and 2) the greatness of humanity or others. A magnanimous person works to continuously understand and achieve both of these in all interactions because a magnanimous person has a genuine HOPE for all humanity. This person sees greatness as taking ALL opportunities within ALL their vocations to help themselves and others to understand and embrace their dignity, talents, freedom and responsibility or what we call human flourishing. They see human flourishing as the ultimate end of any project and as a result they “dream and do BIG THINGS.”
I used to think that discussing magnanimity could alienate audiences (For some of us, it’s a challenge just to learn to pronounce!). Now, I view it as a cornerstone of hope for humanity’s future, and I unabashedly do not hold back. When I speak about magnanimity, I focus on:
- Defining Key Concepts: Introducing affiliated words that encapsulate this hope and their significance.
- Synergy and Significance: Explaining how these concepts interact and why they are crucial.
- Personal Growth: Offering strategies for individual development through these ideals.
Words—and Their Meanings—Matter
Our introductory formation at ALF highlights Key Words, with Magnanimity being the paramount one. Discover these transformative words through our quick and engaging quiz. Upon completion, you can download a reference sheet to keep these words close at hand.
Deep Dive into Magnanimity
Magnanimity isn’t just a lofty ideal or platitude; it’s a concrete practice of doing great things for others. Here’s how you can actively engage with this virtue:
- Application in Life Roles: Whether as a friend, co-worker, or parent, identify specific actions to embody magnanimity.
- Assess and Reflect: Document your actions, noting the presence or absence of magnanimity, and distinguish genuine actions from superficial ones, as Alex Havard teaches (i.e. examine your motives for evidence of prudence).
- Continuously Improve: Use a weekly planner to track your actions and outcomes. Employ the START/STOP/CONTINUE framework to refine your approach:
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- What must I do to START practicing magnanimity;
- what must I STOP doing to this end;
- what must I CONTINUE doing to keep going?
Is Magnanimity Really Dead?
Is the virtue of magnanimity truly a relic of the past? If so, we firmly believe it can be revived and revitalized, breathing new life into this ancient virtue.
Discover the compelling reasons for its revival by watching the video “What We Do…” on our homepage that details the crucial need for magnanimity in today’s world. Embracing this noble quality can lead to greatness of soul – stronger leadership and more effective execution of personal missions.
THEN, take the next step: assess your own temperament with our quiz, and begin to know thyself. Together, we can resurrect magnanimity, infusing hope and altruism into humanity once more.
