Wisdom & Method has its roots in Buddhist philosophy, where wisdom has been called the “eye that discerns” and method the “legs that carry.” While the phrase has many interpretations, I understand it like so: to bring any endeavor to good result, both a deep understanding of the way things are—wisdom—and the capacity to thrive in the world—method—are required.

I believe that developing both wisdom and method is essential for leaders. It’s one thing to have a compelling vision, it’s another to bring it into being in a world of messy complexity. Wisdom with no method leads to one dead end after another. Method with no wisdom leads to empty results without real impact. Having both is what makes the difference.