CANCEL CULTURE AND THE TRIAL OF SOCRATES
- Renegade Agency
- Robin Falke
Leadership in the age of automation: A human-centric approach
To outlast automation, we need to develop ‘new’ ways of staying relevant – luckily, that ‘new’ is something we’ve always had.
What it demands of us is that we hone our human skills, our ‘durable’ skills: critical thinking, leadership, collaboration, and empathy to name a few. In my previous article, we discussed why we all need these durable skills to become leaders in our own right.
Many people are held back from their true potential not by a lack of technical ability, but by deeply ingrained feelings of inadequacy and societal expectations that make balance and real fulfillment difficult to achieve.
It all seems like a self-fueling fire. An issue that extends beyond the workplace and instead lies in how society is shaped from the ground up.
We face an urgent question: How do we lead in a world where the tasks that once defined us are increasingly being handled by machines?
If we must become better leaders with human-centric skills, reach a real work-life balance, and squash deeply ingrained feelings of inadequacy, Step 1 is to figure out what kind of leadership our society truly needs. Second: how do we cultivate this type of leadership?
To answer some of these questions, we might turn to one of the greatest thinkers in history: Socrates. His trial and teachings offer a blueprint for leadership that strikingly, is as relevant now as it was in ancient Athens. Yet, just like in his time, those who challenge the status quo or question established power structures are often met with resistance. A dynamic that plays out today in cancel culture, the suppression of free speech, and even imposter syndrome in the workplace.
In an ongoing series exploring leadership in new frontiers, I sat down with Katy Smith, Hannah Stephen, and Tracy Wood, founders at Renegade Agency, to explore this topic more.
"There were definitely moments where I wondered if I was the right person for the job. I also wondered if my gender played a part in how I was perceived or if that influenced how I viewed myself."
Katy Smith
Socratic leadership: the blueprint
To understand what kind of leadership we need, we could look at how our societies tend to suppress critical thought. Today’s phenomenon of “cancel culture” acts as a contemporary parallel to the trial of Socrates.
In ancient Athens, Socrates was put on trial for corrupting the youth and questioning the gods. Socrates was sentenced to death not because he couldn’t defend himself from his alleged crimes, but because he refused to rely on principles he spent his life critiquing.
His pursuit of truth and refusal to conform to popular opinion ultimately led to his death sentence. He did not need to die, and had the skills to argue his case, however, chose not to as he couldn’t bring himself to rely on the structures and principles that he had so often criticised. In a similar way, cancel culture reflects an instinct to silence voices that challenge our beliefs and comfort zones.
Like the Athenians of old, we fear what we don’t understand or what disturbs our view of the world. Socrates presented a new way of thinking, one that demands self-reflection, ethics, and the courage to admit what we don’t know. He promoted dialogue as the main way to pursue wisdom, rather than clinging to structures or norms. We should consider what it means to foster a society that nurtures, rather than fears, critical voices.
"I felt I needed to 'earn' the right to 'know something', to be rewarded for questioning business as usual. When I asked for a salary outside of my wildest dreams, I was so nervous, but they didn’t even blink. I thought to myself, ‘I should’ve asked for more!’”
Tracy Wood
Modern leadership favours power over truth
Socrates had a vision for how leaders should be created. He argued that true leaders, those that are worthy of governance, should be created and educated through a process that emphasises wisdom, self-awareness, and ethical reasoning.
In Plato’s Apology, Socrates’ idea is that “people should be governed by those with the greatest knowledge, abilities, and virtues, and who possessed a deep knowledge of themselves.”
This idea is in stark contrast to how leadership is often determined today. Think of what you know: corporate psychopaths, SME tyrants – we’ve all been there.
In today’s corporate and political arenas, leadership is often about maintaining power rather than a search for true wisdom. Too often, leaders are selected based on their ability to please stakeholders, rather than their ethical judgment or capacity for critical thought. This focus on preserving existing structures discourages questioning and innovation, fostering environments where imposter syndrome thrives.
Employees may feel like frauds, unable to express their true selves, because authentic voices are unwelcome.
Socratic leadership demands the courage to question everything: ourselves, societal norms, and existing power structures. True leadership should be rooted in character and ethics, not just the ability to command authority.
***Source: https://humanos.co.uk/the-paradox-of-imposter-syndrome-and-the-science-behind-it/
Underselling yourself? The secret reason why you’re stuck
This fear of questioning, and the suppression of alternative viewpoints, often contributes to a work environment where people don’t feel empowered to express themselves or ask for what they deserve. Imposter syndrome is a direct result of feeling that their authentic selves are not welcome.
Socratic leadership requires us to focus on character, ethics, and the courage to question both ourselves and the structures that surround us. For a balanced world, this kind of education is crucial. These kinds of leaders are shaped not by their ability to tell people what they want to hear but by their commitment to the pursuit of truth, regardless of public opinion.
In times of uncertainty and huge growth, we need leaders with the resilience to face difficult questions, the humanness to admit their limitations, and the wisdom to seek answers through collaboration and dialogue.
Without the ability to question and reflect, true wisdom—and true leadership—cannot emerge.
Imposter syndrome is pervasive, especially in today’s fast-paced, high-performance workplace cultures. This feeling of inadequacy, much like the resistance to Socratic questioning, stems from self-reflection and vulnerability being seen as weaknesses, rather than strengths.
Katy, Hannah, and Tracy’s reflections mirror the struggle of many who realise only afterwards that they deserve more and it’s a realisation that often comes too late, leaving them to fight for the recognition they should have demanded from the start. This constant questioning of ourselves, combined with these societal expectations, creates things like imposter syndrome.
"I quickly realised I had undersold myself, but I had to fight to correct that.”
Hannah Stephen
The Socratic solution: how to lead with purpose, not ego
To overcome imposter syndrome and cultivate the kind of leadership we need, workplaces need to evolve toward a more Socratic model. This means creating environments where employees are encouraged to question assumptions, to embrace uncertainty, and to see learning as an ongoing process. Only by doing this, can we empower people to feel more confident in their abilities and less like an imposter.
Katy’s reflection speaks to this societal issue: the way we perceive ourselves is often formed by how we believe others see us.
So, in a world that discourages vulnerability and reflection, it’s easy to feel inadequate. But by embracing a Socratic approach to leadership, one that values questioning and self-awareness, we might be able to create a culture where individuals are empowered to grow and lead authentically, and hopefully, stay relevant!
Powerful ideas connect
people
In a world of shifting values, the power of useful ideas is more important than ever. Connect what you’re great at with what motivates people to act and your KPIs will follow.
Renegade provides people first strategy, award winning creative and pioneering technology. We connect you with audiences in honest, unique and useful ways.
Ready to try something new?
Share this
Read more
AI Podge Takeover!
Renegade takes creative tech lead at Podge Evolution with AI enabled smart kiosks.
Cancel culture and the trial of socrates
To outlast automation, we need to develop ‘new’ ways of staying relevant – luckily, that ‘new’ is something we’ve always had.
Adaptability: The soft skill currency that outlasts AI
Leaders always find a way to survive. Come hurricanes or AI, charismatic humans who inspire and drive others are irreplaceable.
