Existentialism, introduced by Kiekergaard in the middle of the 19th century, is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the value of individuals’ autonomy and decision-making powers in constructing their own existence and discovering meaning in life. According to Mart (2012), existentialism, in the full sense of its philosophy, is one that examines the very peculiar conditions making up the individual’s life experience, pointing to existence as a matter of self and subjectiveness. It is a philosophy that comes to terms with the deepest questions about human feelings, decisions humans make, the responsibilities they carry with them, and the thoughts that shape their perceptions of the world.
From this perspective, existentialism calls on man to take responsibility for one’s life, to make intentional choices, and to bear with the option to determine freedom in a world. Existential philosophy has influenced many sectors, Journal of Business and Management Research, including psychology, literature, and leadership. Therefore, the objective of the paper is to explore how leaders can include facets such as authenticity, freedom, and responsibility (existentialism themes) into their leadership styles.
More specifically this study intended to address research question like “how can existential philosophical perspective be linked to leadership?” Further, using the existentialist concepts of freedom, responsibility, and authenticity, this paper attempts to extract insights into ways leaders can manage the intrinsic uncertainties of their jobs and arrive at more purposeful and effective decisions.
Table of Contents
Existentialism as a Freedom-Oriented Philosophy
Existentialism is a freedom-oriented philosophy that puts the individual’s existence at the center of all other questions; it emphasizes that the individual’s being is the very foundation on which one bases their actions, decisions, and eventual being. This philosophy holds that everyone is entitled to make their own decisions and possesses the intelligence to evaluate them. People view this autonomy as a fundamental human characteristic that distinguishes the individual as an agent of free will and self-determination.
Whereas traditional views perhaps would explain human behavior in terms of some preordained or externally imposed framework, existential philosophy challenges such ideas and instead locates human nature and morality as something not fixed or universally defined but rather created through voluntary choices individuals make in the world profoundly personal and subjective experience of existence (May, 1983). Existential philosophy focuses on the autonomy and free will of the individual, making the claim that people make their own essence and morals through personal choices rather than having it predefined or by structure. It highlights existence as being subjective in nature, modified by choice.
Existential Philosophy and Leadership
Existential philosophy is an important approach to leadership because it provides a framework that focuses on the human experiences and existential realities that beset leaders and their followers. In that sense, focusing on the individual’s freedom to choose and the responsibility that emanates from that freedom, existentialism provides a useful lens through which leadership can be critically considered.
This is not a question of strategic decision-making or authority; rather, it has to do with an in-depth engagement with human condition in full realization of the anxieties, uncertainties, and responsibilities attached to the leadership role. Therefore, existentialists view leaders not solely by their title but by the authenticity of their decisions and their impact on themselves and others. Followers too are seen as autonomous agents whose experiences and choices are integral to the leadership process (Lawler, 2005).
Existentialism and the Human Condition
In a nutshell, existentialism is a philosophy that focuses on the human condition and exhorts each of us to live honestly, or, as existentialists would say, honestly, from the beginning, with existence having no greater significance than the one we choose to give it. It centered on the idea that a person’s mental state results from their encounters with life’s inevitable truths, such as freedom and its corresponding obligations, existential loneliness, and meaninglessness. It is the philosophy about the human condition that calls for life to be lived authentically with regard to created freedom, responsibility, and meaningfulness by an individual.
The Foundations of Existentialism
Existentialism is personified by a group of well-known intellectuals as a philosophical movement that views humanity as the architect of its own destiny. Philosophers of the 20th century such as Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, Karl Jasper, and Albert Camus deeply reflected their interpretation of existentialism. However, Jean-Paul Sartre and Soren Kierkegaard are typically regarded as its founders (Adeleye, 2021). Existentialism, adopted by philosophers such as Heidegger, Sartre, and Camus, holds Existentialism and Its Implications for Leadership 46 Journal of Business and Management Research, humanity responsible for its fate. It is generally traced back to the writings of Jean-Paul Sartre and Søren Kierkegaard, and it emerged as one of the more characteristic movements in 20th-century philosophy.
Existential Questions
Existentialism is the view of human existence that is based on basic questions like “Who is man?” and “What does it mean to exist or to be human?” This philosophy assumes that being human entails encountering some universal difficulties: the loneliness of a cold, uncaring universe; the certainty of pain, suffering, and death; and the reality that each person, regardless of how surrounded by others, must pass through the milestones in life, namely, birth and death alone.
These existential threats may create what is known as an existential vacuum when individuals feel a deep sense of emptiness, meaninglessness, apprehension, and isolation because their goals are not fulfilled. Existentialism also highlights the tension between freedom of choice and the responsibility that comes with making choices.
Individualist perspectives emphasized that individuals bear full responsibility for the consequences of their decisions, however difficult, while also recognizing the potential to rise above adversity. Despite all the hardships, existentialism also recognizes human potential to rise above hostility, find meaning in life, and gain hope even in desperation. Existentialism is concerned with the nature of existence, encompassing man’s lonely struggle in the atmosphere of suffering and his search to find meaning. It teaches person responsibility for choice yet asserts the capacity of man to surmount any situation and even make meaning out of despair.
Kierkegaard’s Contribution
Søren Kierkegaard, widely regarded as the father of existentialism, examined the concept of individual existence and the subjective nature of truth and faith in his work The Sickness unto Death (Kierkegaard, 1849). Initially Kierkegaard was influenced by the ideas of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, but later he rejected Hegelian philosophy in favor of developing his own, which later became known as existentialism (Kirillova & Ulitina, 2017).
Kierkegaard received little recognition outside his home country during his lifetime. However, after his death, he had enormous influence on German, French, and American philosophy, literature, and theology. His philosophy is not purely technical; it borders on a fusion of theology and philosophy, much like those of Pascal and Augustine (Rempel, 1959). His works mostly relate to human existence, highlighting the human individual’s concrete reality, hence emphasizing personal experience and introspection over abstract thinking.
Nietzsche’s Philosophy of Übermensch
The philosophy of the Übermensch was put forth by Friedrich Nietzsche in his 1883 work. “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” is a significant work by Nietzsche published in 1883. However, some of the ideas explored in “Thus spoke Zarathustra” were first introduced, though in a preliminary form, in his earlier 1882 book, ‘The Gay Science’. The word “Übermensch” can be translated as “Overman” or “Superman,” and it embodies a hypothetical individual who oversteps conventional human limitations and ethical ideals of behavior to fashion a personal meaning and purpose in life.
According to Nietzsche, the Übermensch was a person who fulfilled human potential and would rise above conventional religion and the networks of obligations of the existent social order, able to empower and transcend himself. He views that people are expected to invent their values and meaning in life; they are expected to live amidst adversities resiliently and ingeniously (Nietzsche, 1882).
Heidegger’s Contribution
Martin Heidegger, in his magnum opus, “Being and Time,” in 1927, presents the world with a basic existential phenomenology. Heidegger addresses the fundamental question of being and our relationship with the world. His work shifts from epistemic concerns, i.e., knowledge, to an ontological focus on the nature of existence. Central in Heidegger’s phenomenology is the concept of authenticity, presence, and situationism of human experience, which contrasts with the traditional view of human nature and activity (Heidegger, 1927). The philosophy of existential phenomenology wherein he describes the nature of being and what it means to be human. He speaks of authenticity and situational presence that thoroughly opposes the traditional conceptions of human nature and activity.
Sartre’s Existentialism
Jean-Paul Sartre further expands existentialist thought with his work “Being and Nothingness” (1943). The existentialism of Sartre considers the theory of existence that precedes essence, hence meaning people are not born with a defined purpose of life. People develop their essence as they make life-changing decisions. The structure is based on freedom and responsibility since one has the conscious formation of identity and how one will live an authentic life (Sartre, 1943). In Being and Nothingness, Jean-Paul Sartre (1943) argues that existence precedes essence; humans do not come into this world with any pre-ordained purpose, and an individual’s essence is thus determined through the choices one makes in life. He emphasizes freedom and responsibility for living an authentic life.
Camus and the Absurd
In “The Myth of Sisyphus,” published in 1942, Albert Camus explores the absurdity of human existence. Camus asserts that even if life has no meaning, one gives it meaning through chosen acts that further humans’ existential freedom coexisting with the absurdity of life. Sisyphus is the metaphor of a man condemned to roll a boulder uphill, only to roll down once more into eternity, representing the human condition. According to Camus (1942), we need to think of Sisyphus as happy, and in the struggle itself, one finds meaning, futile though it be.
Existentialist Perspectives on Leadership
Existentialism has an enormous impact on leadership theory since it provides new insight into authentic leadership, freedom of choice, responsibility, and meaning creation. Leaders who follow existential principles do not only direct or control others; they inspire them to discover their own meaning and value in their jobs. Existentialism develops leadership through an understanding that human beings are complex, emotionally involved, and meaning-seeking. Existential leaders acknowledge that life has inherent ambiguities and uncertainties and embrace them instead of fleeing from them. These leaders remain authentic in their relationships, promote autonomy, and take responsibility for their choices and those of their teams.
Freedom and Responsibility in Leadership
One of the cornerstones of existentialism is the concept of freedom, accompanied by the corresponding weight of responsibility. Sartre’s maxim, “Man is condemned to be free,” (Sartre, 1943) suggests that with the power to choose comes the inescapable burden of responsibility. In leadership, this translates to understanding that every decision carries moral and practical consequences. Leaders cannot escape responsibility by appealing to external authorities or circumstances; they must own their actions and their impact. According to Lawler (2005), existentialist leadership requires recognizing this freedom and acting authentically, even when choices are difficult. It demands that leaders make decisions consistent with their values and encourage others to exercise their own freedom responsibly.
Authenticity in Leadership
Authenticity, a central existential value, refers to the alignment between one’s inner beliefs and outward actions. For leaders, authenticity entails self-awareness, integrity, and honesty in their dealings with others. Kierkegaard emphasized that being true to oneself is essential to a meaningful life. Similarly, Heidegger’s concept of “authentic being” (Dasein) involves confronting one’s existence honestly rather than living inauthentically by conforming to societal expectations. Authentic leaders, therefore, lead from a place of genuine conviction rather than pretense or external pressure. This authenticity fosters trust and inspires followers to be genuine in their own work and relationships (Avolio & Gardner, 2005).
The Role of Existential Coaching in Leadership Development Existential coaching is a specialized application that combines key principles of existential philosophy with coaching practice. Essential elements include existential authenticity, choice, and anxiety, with major contributors such as Sartre and Heidegger guiding the model. This type of coaching model mixes up most psychotherapeutic traditions but usually focuses on goal-directed and solution-oriented strategies and procedures to enhance effectiveness in coaching settings.
Furthermore, existential coaching has been proven to help enhance leadership development inside professional partnerships by encouraging participants to reflect on their roles and contributions. Existential coaching is the combination of existential philosophy with coaching methodologies where authenticity, choice, and anxiety surface as the main concerns, based on the works of Sartre and Heidegger. It furthers leadership development with increased self-awareness, goal-directed interventions in relation to effectiveness in the workplace.
Conclusion
Existentialism adds depth to leadership by emphasizing authenticity, freedom, and responsibility. It encourages leaders to be true to themselves, make freely available choices, and take responsibility for their actions, thereby enriching leadership approaches. This school of thought departs from the traditional theories on the same, as it explains the individual experience, choices, and uncertainties that exist in human existence. The school encourages leaders to confront their existence, make authentic choices, and take responsibility for personal and organizational outcomes. By acknowledging the existential reality of freedom both as a burden and as a privilege, leaders can create a far more profound sense of purpose and meaning within their organizations.
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