The Four Cardinal Points of Leadership (2024)

“Life gives you exactly what you need to awaken.”
T. Scott McLeod

When we need to locate, orient ourselves or find a particular place, we use the cardinal points. These have a close and direct relation with the movement that the sun has in the sky during the day, as a direct consequence of the rotation movement that the earth experiences. The cardinal points can always be found on the four sides of the map. They represent the four directions that we can find in space: North, South, East and West.In my coaching practice, the cardinal points are represented by Wisdom (West), Self-awareness (South), Ethics (East) and iNsight (North).A little ‘cutesy’ I know, but bear with me.The four cardinal points of the compass have always held deep symbolic meaning in many cultures:

West - Wisdom.

In China, the West is the direction of enlightenment. Judaism tells us that moving westward brings us closer to the shining presence of the Divine. Aztec civilisation and the ancient Egyptians alike believed this is where the door to the next world resided. Celtic tradition is similar but for the fact that you must go to the edge of the sea to find the nether world. In many Muslim countries, people face West to pray, the direction of Mecca.Some Native Americans believe that West signifies the end of life and ageing.The link between Wisdom and ageing is much debated, although research has confirmed the hypothesis that as one ages, experience and acquired knowledge from a lifetime of decision making offset the declining ability to learn new information.

East - Ethics.

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The Lakota are a Native American tribe. Also known as the Teton Sioux, they are one of the three tribes of the Great Sioux Nation. The Lakota Four Directions Prayer has this to say about the East:

“As the day begins with the rising sun, I ask, Spirit keeper of the East, Brother Eagle, Be with me. Fly high as you carry my prayers to the Creator. May I have eyes as sharp as yours, so I am able to see truth and hope on the path I have chosen. Guide my step and give me the courage to walk the circle of my life with honesty and dignity.”

Walking the circle of life with honesty and dignity evokes ethical behaviour and a strong sense of morality. The concept of a moral compass sits nicely with the four cardinal points and the pursuit of ethical conduct.

South - Self-Awareness.

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For the Mayans, the South was represented by yellow and was named Kan K’in. The South was painted yellow by the winds and marked the end of winter, as well as the beginning of the period in which they had to begin to prepare the lands to sow corn, a product that is also related to the yellow colour.Preparing for your leadership journey requires that you first know yourself.You reap what you sow.

North – iNsight.

A shamanic belief is that if you are in search of explicit, articulate knowledge or guidance, get to know the North. This is the cut and dry realm of the mental plane, the home of the teachers of truth. If you are seeking, you will always find an answer in the North. I have come to believe that the compass is a more apt metaphor for the way intuition and insight work. The compass needle does not point southwest to indicate that you should turn southwest, and then switch to due south when that’s the better way to go.

The compass simply shows you the direction of the Earth’s North Pole. The point of the needle is drawn toward the north because it feels a magnetic attraction to the north. That’s all the compass does for you. North is the only thing it reveals. What you do concerning that knowledge is up to you. You can move directly toward it; you can turn in the opposite direction and walk south; you can keep north in the corner of your eye as you move in an easterly direction. You can forge a path that meanders one way then another but always moves generally in a northerly direction.

A Confession.

I would like to say that with all this research and ‘surfing’ I came to realise that there was a deeply spiritual and metaphysical significance associated with my four cardinal points of leadership which drove me to adopt and develop them as part of my leadership framework.I would like to say that but I cannot.What happened was I was researching wisdom, insight, self-awareness and ethics, and I realised that they spelt WISE (which was cute). I then thought that leadership development was a journey, and coaching was a metaphorical compass.With just a little bit of engineering (the ‘N’ in insight), I realised I had the four cardinal points (equally cute).The rest was just a justification after the fact.

I have learned two lessons from this exercise:

1.With a little time, effort and access to the web you can justify anything!

2.Some things just happen by chance … or do they? Maybe, just maybe, everything happens when it is supposed to and the Universe is unfolding as it should.

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A Blatant Advert - Can we get on?

I would like to invite you to take part in a free video conference or telephone session which lasts approximately 20 minutes. It can be made at a time convenient to you.

What it is.

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I realise that the decision to work with a coach is a big ask. You need to build trust in your coach, and I need to be sure that I can help you. During this 20-minute call, I take time to understand your current situation and what you would like to achieve from your WISE (Wisdom, Insight, Self-awareness and Ethics) Leadership Coaching programme.

What it is not.

I was going to say that this is not a sales call, but let’s start our relationship with honesty. Of course, it is a sales call.However, my commitment to you is that there will be zero pressure to make any buying decisions on this call. It’s an opportunity for us, collectively, to understand your challenge(s) and identify whether my approach is suitable for your situation.If I can’t help, I will tell you – life is too short.I am not a ‘life’ coach.I coach to help you become the leader you want to be.

Your outcome:

We will generate a shared understanding of the way forward. If we, collectively, think we can do some great things, then fantastic.If this is not right for you, I will understand and thank you for your valuable time. If I can’t help you then I will tell you, I hope you will understand and I will still thank you for your valuable time. Message me if you want to talk.

Greetings, readers. As someone deeply entrenched in the realms of leadership coaching and metaphysical explorations, I find myself compelled to unravel the profound layers embedded in the article you've just encountered. My expertise in both leadership development and the metaphysical intricacies of cardinal points allows me to shed light on the profound connections between these seemingly disparate concepts.

Let's delve into the wisdom encapsulated in the four cardinal points—Wisdom, Ethics, Self-awareness, and iNsight—interwoven seamlessly into the fabric of leadership coaching.

1. Wisdom (West): The association of West with Wisdom echoes through diverse cultures. In China, it signifies enlightenment, while in Judaism, moving westward brings one closer to the divine presence. Aztec and ancient Egyptian civilizations perceived the West as the gateway to the next world. In Native American beliefs, West symbolizes the end of life and aging. Here, the article cleverly ties wisdom to aging, drawing from research that supports the notion that experience and acquired knowledge offset the declining ability to learn new information with age.

2. Ethics (East): The East, associated with Ethics, draws inspiration from the Lakota Four Directions Prayer among Native Americans. The rising sun in the East symbolizes the beginning of the day and is linked to ethical behavior. The article emphasizes the connection between walking the circle of life with honesty and dignity and the pursuit of ethical conduct, aligning with the concept of a moral compass represented by the cardinal points.

3. Self-awareness (South): For the Mayans, the South, represented by yellow, marked the end of winter and the beginning of preparation for sowing corn. The article cleverly ties this to the concept of self-awareness, emphasizing that preparing for a leadership journey requires first knowing oneself. The metaphor of reaping what you sow reinforces the idea of self-awareness as a crucial aspect of effective leadership.

4. iNsight (North): The North, associated with iNsight, is portrayed as the realm of explicit knowledge and guidance. Drawing from shamanic beliefs, the article likens the compass to intuition and insight, highlighting that it merely points to the North. The choice of how to navigate that knowledge is left to the individual, emphasizing the autonomy and responsibility of the leader in their quest for insight.

In a confessional tone, the author reveals the genesis of these cardinal points, acknowledging the serendipity of their discovery. This authenticity adds a layer of relatability, subtly suggesting that profound concepts can emerge from seemingly mundane connections.

As the article concludes with a bold invitation for a free coaching session, the author intertwines honesty and transparency. Acknowledging the nature of the call as a sales pitch, the commitment to zero pressure aligns with the ethical underpinning associated with the cardinal point of East.

In essence, this article weaves together ancient symbolism, cultural beliefs, leadership principles, and a touch of personal revelation to create a narrative that invites reflection on the interconnectedness of wisdom, ethics, self-awareness, and insight in the journey of leadership development.

The Four Cardinal Points of Leadership (2024)

FAQs

The Four Cardinal Points of Leadership? ›

North, east, south, and west are the four cardinal directions, often marked by the initials N, E, S, and W. East and west are at right angles to north and south. East is in the clockwise direction of rotation from north. West is directly opposite east.

What are the four cardinal points explain? ›

North, east, south, and west are the four cardinal directions, often marked by the initials N, E, S, and W. East and west are at right angles to north and south. East is in the clockwise direction of rotation from north. West is directly opposite east.

What are the four directions of leadership? ›

The Leadership Compass draws from a Native American Indian -based practice called the Medicine Wheel or the Four-Fold Way. In the Four-Fold Way, the four directions are described as warrior (north), healer (south), teacher (west), and visionary (east).

What are the four cardinal capabilities? ›

They are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.

Why are they called cardinal points? ›

The word "cardinal" in this context is derived from the Latin word "cardo," meaning "hinge" or "pivot." The concept is metaphorically linked to a pivotal or central point from which other directions radiate.

What are the 4 leadership styles path goal theory? ›

Path-Goal Theory helps leaders determine an appropriate leadership style, depending on the situation and the people they're leading. It's based on four leadership styles: supportive, directive, participative, and achievement-oriented.

What are the four quadrant of effective leadership? ›

There are four different quadrants we can look at when we talk about developing leaders: skill-based learning, experience-based learning, knowledge sharing, and peer coaching/mentoring. Each one has its benefits for those who participate and those who lead organizational change efforts through these methods.

What are the 4 intermediate directions? ›

North, south, east, and west are the only true directions. The directions on the compass that are halfway between these cardinal points are called northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest. These in-between points are called intermediate directions.

Why is it important for a person to possess the four cardinal virtues? ›

These four cardinal virtues form the basis of being a good person for many philosophers and Christian scholars. The development of one or all of them should bring greater happiness and satisfaction in our lives.

Why are cardinal points important? ›

Cardinal directions are probably the most important directions in geography: north, south, east and west. These directions help us orient ourselves wherever we are. For example, in the United States, San Francisco, California, is west of New York City, New York.

What is the symbol of the four cardinal virtues? ›

The design depicts all four of the Cardinal Virtues, with each symbol and letter representing a specific virtue. The owl represents Wisdom, the lion represents Courage, the scales represent Justice and the lotus flower represents Temperance.

What is the direction of leadership? ›

Direction is the leader's ability:

To set a clear and compelling vision for your team, and to align your actions and decisions with that vision. To communicate the desired outcomes and the reasons behind them, and to inspire your team to follow you.

What are four direction movements? ›

As in figure 1(a), the 4-way movement is a combination of four determined direction which is north (0), south (2), west (3) and east (1). Meanwhile, the 8- way movement is an addition of 4-way movement with another 4 directions as in figure 1(b). ...

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