Tap 3: Philosophical Principles for Audio Leadership

At one point in my career, I was asked if I had any suggestions on how to be a lead or audio director by adhering to philosophical ideals or mindsets. At the time, I had no answer I was willing to propose as a heuristic for effective leadership. Now that I've completed my work on Baldur's Gate 3 and advanced further in my career, I find myself revisiting this question. As someone who both studies and teaches ethical and moral philosophies, I should surely have some insights, both from my own experiences and from history. So, I shall attempt to address this query with some points that have recently become important to me.

A Good Leader is Impervious to Corruption

Corruption manifests in various forms, but the most insidious is financial. Leaders often succumb to the allure of monetary gain, jeopardizing the well-being of those they are meant to guide. I have worked under leads who were so preoccupied with their earnings that they deflected blame onto others to avoid criticism. Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative advises us to act only according to maxims that we would will to be universal laws. In this context, ask yourself: Is pursuing a raise worth compromising your team's stability and mental health? Awareness of these ethical dilemmas can serve as a bulwark against corruption.

To further illustrate this point, consider the Stoic maxim from Seneca: "For greed, all nature is too little." This saying encapsulates the insatiable nature of greed and how it can never be fully satisfied, always demanding more at the expense of others. It serves as a cautionary tale for leaders, reminding them that the pursuit of personal gain can lead to a never-ending cycle of wanting more, ultimately at the cost of ethical leadership and the well-being of the team.

A Good Leader Improves Others

Plato states through his writings that there are two kinds of doctors: those who heal the body and those who heal the soul. The latter, often represented by Socrates, elevates others through rational discourse. However, I believe rationality alone is insufficient. A lot of harm has been done using just rationality. Some religious institutions advocate that love is the key to improving others, but history is rife with bad actors using solely love in their actions. Therefore, it's my firm belief that the improvement of others can only come through a balanced application of rational thinking and virtuous love. A good leader uses both to improve not only the moral fiber of their team but also their professional capabilities, such as creating sound effects or providing effective communication. By using both, you can provide feedback that is objective rather than subjective, and it will help you see the person as a human being rather than as a faulty cog. While improving them, you improve yourself.

A Good Leader Knows Success Seldom Comes from Them Alone

While this could be subsumed under the topic of corruption, it merits individual attention. A good leader practices humility as often as possible and sees themselves as shepherds who protect the flock from unnecessary and subjectively bad external feedback. They do not seek recognition because recognition often comes at a cost, usually in the form of caustic behavior. They recognize that their job is to empower others to the point that, when the game is finished, the team feels they have accomplished everything they wanted.  Lao Tzu encapsulates this idea succinctly: "A leader is best when people barely know he exists; when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves." Your role is to empower your team so thoroughly that they feel a sense of collective achievement upon project completion. In the process of accomplishing this, remember that your power is not diminished; whatever the team's successes, they could not have been achieved without you and your ability to empower others. So, the next time you are in a meeting, or someone appreciates the work done on a project, do not say you accomplished it; say the team did.

A Good Leader Trusts and Builds Trust Within and Beyond Their Team

Trust is the bedrock of any successful collaboration. Instead of micromanaging every task, trust your team to do their work. Allow them to experiment and to be right. Immanuel Kant's principle serves as a guiding light here: "Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means to an end." Over time, this trust will be reciprocated. I have had other departments reach out to me for suggestions simply because I had built trust with them. Sound designers have been willing to show me their work in progress at an early stage because they trust that I will not interfere prematurely. The more at ease people feel around you, the more they will engage with you and seek your opinions. They will be more willing to think creatively and outside the box, knowing their ideas will not be ridiculed. Trust is a two-way street; if you don't trust the people you've hired or those who were hired before you, they won't trust you either. If you fail to trust your team, the ensuing toxicity will tarnish your reputation and disrupt the workplace, leading people to leave and management to identify you as the problem. And they would be correct in doing so.

Final Thoughts

Leadership informed by philosophical principles can yield significant benefits. I strongly recommend delving into philosophical texts, particularly Plato's Republic, which centers on the qualities of a just and effective leader.

For those interested in exploring ethical leadership from a different angle, Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics" provides valuable insights into the concept of virtue and moral character, essential qualities for any leader. If you're inclined towards Eastern philosophy, "The Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu offers wisdom on the art of subtle leadership, emphasizing humility and the empowerment of others. For a modern take on leadership ethics, "Leadership and Self-Deception" by the Arbinger Institute explores how self-deception can be a significant barrier to effective leadership, offering practical advice on how to overcome it. Lastly, for those who appreciate the Stoic philosophy, Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations" serves as a personal journal of the Roman Emperor's own Stoic philosophy, offering timeless advice on how to be a resilient and ethical leader. By engaging with these texts, you not only enrich your intellectual landscape but also equip yourself with the philosophical tools necessary for ethical and effective leadership. These works offer a variety of perspectives, each contributing to a comprehensive understanding of what it means to lead with integrity and wisdom.

These were my thoughts.