Many leaders get lost in details, zoom in instead of out. They are fast and nimble, but also lost and rootless. They’re short on time but still need the time to build a solid foundation for their (working) existence. Many underestimate the extent to which they are in control. Others seem to determine things, or the situation itself takes over. It sometimes feels like you have no say in the matter. The Stoics say: you yourself are the one who provides the interpretation, so you yourself can take control. You can let the situation – forced dismissal or economic loss, for example – determine how you feel or act. Or you can decide for yourself what the next action will be. Personal leadership is about taking control, about the choices you have and see, about zooming out in utter chaos, about dealing with obstacles and resistance and thus developing a strong foundation.

It’s time to zoom out, to gain perspective. Viewing the bustle around you through the lens of Stoic philosophy, among other methods, can provide the needed headspace and breathing space.