Leadership Lessons from Leonardo: Systems Thinking in the Workplace

I have long been a fan of Leonardo da Vinci’s thinking processes; he was an elite systemic thinker. One of his famous quotes follows, “Principles for the development of a complete mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses—especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” I have incorporated Leonardo’s thinking processes within my learning and leadership training modules for many years, seeing how this type of thinking helps individuals and teams grow in their ability to create, collaborate, think critically, and, most importantly, see the connections. Tapping into the convergence of art and science can help improve everything from strategic planning to performance management. Check out the insightful article “Leadership Lessons from Leonardo” from Deloitte’s series on how resilient leaders connect disparate dots across disciplines, sectors, and geographies. As facilitators of learning and leadership development, this is another tool to become familiar with and embrace the thinking processes of Leonardo DaVinci within your corporation.