Other Titles
Global Nursing Leadership Through the Balance Theory of Wisdom: Represent, Reflect, Respect, Respond [Symposium Title]
Other Titles
Symposium Presentation
Abstract
In creating the Balance Theory of Wisdom, Sternberg (1) defined wisdom as the application of intelligence, creativity, and knowledge to the common good by balancing and mediating the values of self (intrapersonal), others (interpersonal), and institutional (extra-personal) interests over the long and short terms in service of adapting, shaping, and selecting environments, that is, to represent, respect, reflect, and respond in shaping the future. The functional consequences of this definition suggest that wise people have exceptional insight into human development and life matters, look for deeper meaning, tolerate ambiguity, have compassion, are other- and purpose-focused, and recognize the limits of knowledge. Wisdom is an emergent property of an individual’s inward and external responses to life. By defining and explaining wisdom capacities, the presentation highlights the importance of knowing one’s personal and professional values and discusses references and resources for developing wisdom capacities with consideration of Sigma's theme:
- Represent: Lead change by influencing and building relationships
- Reflect: Apply wisdom to examine experience and self-assessment
- Respect: Approach others mindfully with humility, trust, and support
- Respond: Serve others by Doing-Seeing-Being to become their best self
In the arc years of celebrating Sigma’s 100th Anniversary and visioning our global future, it is timely to consider where we are and where we want to be, personally, professionally and organizationally, as well as our impact in achieving the SDGs. In this interactive globally relevant session, participants will reflect and respond by practicing reflective conversations and dialogue using the reflective processes described in Liberating Structures that energize new conversations, urging everyone to represent, reflect, respect, and respond in globally inclusive ways.
Like the original Sigma founders, the generativity catalyzed from wisdom leadership transcends time. Through reflecting and responding, participants will consider how wisdom leadership guides bold approaches for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for creating global connections across organizations and institutions, representing all of us.
(1) Sternberg, Robert, (2004) Words to the wise about wisdom, Human Development 47:286-289.
Notes
References:
Pesut, DJ (2022). Wisdom Leadership: A Developmental Journey, Chapter 17 pages 443-461 in Wei, H., & Horton-Deutsch, S. (2022). Visionary Leadership In Healthcare. Sigma Theta Tau.
Pesut, D. (2015). Avoiding derailment: Leadership strategies for identity, reputation, and legacy management. In Leadership & nursing contemporary perspectives (pp. 251-261). Churchill Livingston, Elsevier: Australia.
Pesut, D. J., & Thompson, S. A. (2018). Nursing leadership in academic nursing: The wisdom of development and the development of wisdom. Journal of Professional Nursing, 34(2), 122-127.
Pesut, D. J. (2004). Create the future through renewal. Reflections on nursing leadership/Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing, 30(1), 24-25.
Plews-Ogan, M., & Beyt, G. (Eds.). (2014). Wisdom leadership in academic health science centers: Leading positive change. Radcliffe Publishing.
Sternberg, R. J. (1998). A balance theory of wisdom. Review of General Psychology, 2(4), 347–365.
Sternberg, R. J. (2003). Wisdom, intelligence, and creativity synthesized. Cambridge University Press.
Sternberg, Robert, (2004) Words to the wise about wisdom, Human Development 47:286-289
Sternberg, R. J., & Jordan, J. (Eds.). (2019). The Cambridge handbook of wisdom. Cambridge University Press.
Sigma Membership
Alpha
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Expert Opinion (nationally/internationally recognized)
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Global Leadership, Balance Theory of Wisdom, Workforce, Mentoring and Coaching, Leadership, Leadership Initiatives, Wisdom
Recommended Citation
Pesut, Daniel J., "Living the Balance Theory of Wisdom with Leadership Values in Mind" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 246.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/246
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-11
Living the Balance Theory of Wisdom with Leadership Values in Mind
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
In creating the Balance Theory of Wisdom, Sternberg (1) defined wisdom as the application of intelligence, creativity, and knowledge to the common good by balancing and mediating the values of self (intrapersonal), others (interpersonal), and institutional (extra-personal) interests over the long and short terms in service of adapting, shaping, and selecting environments, that is, to represent, respect, reflect, and respond in shaping the future. The functional consequences of this definition suggest that wise people have exceptional insight into human development and life matters, look for deeper meaning, tolerate ambiguity, have compassion, are other- and purpose-focused, and recognize the limits of knowledge. Wisdom is an emergent property of an individual’s inward and external responses to life. By defining and explaining wisdom capacities, the presentation highlights the importance of knowing one’s personal and professional values and discusses references and resources for developing wisdom capacities with consideration of Sigma's theme:
- Represent: Lead change by influencing and building relationships
- Reflect: Apply wisdom to examine experience and self-assessment
- Respect: Approach others mindfully with humility, trust, and support
- Respond: Serve others by Doing-Seeing-Being to become their best self
In the arc years of celebrating Sigma’s 100th Anniversary and visioning our global future, it is timely to consider where we are and where we want to be, personally, professionally and organizationally, as well as our impact in achieving the SDGs. In this interactive globally relevant session, participants will reflect and respond by practicing reflective conversations and dialogue using the reflective processes described in Liberating Structures that energize new conversations, urging everyone to represent, reflect, respect, and respond in globally inclusive ways.
Like the original Sigma founders, the generativity catalyzed from wisdom leadership transcends time. Through reflecting and responding, participants will consider how wisdom leadership guides bold approaches for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for creating global connections across organizations and institutions, representing all of us.
(1) Sternberg, Robert, (2004) Words to the wise about wisdom, Human Development 47:286-289.
Description
Overall Symposium Summary: Three presentations apply the Balance Theory of Wisdom framing intelligence, creativity, and knowledge work for balancing intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extra-personal needs and respecting values shaping the environment: 1) Ways the balance theory of wisdom develops values-based leadership, 2) How explicit and tacit knowledge defining caring science are embodied in the balance theory of wisdom, 3) Collectively responding to overarching reflective questions recreating nursing's global future.
Note: The attached slide deck is a combined symposium presentation containing the slides of all featured symposium speakers.
To locate the other presentations in this symposium, search the repository by the Symposium Title shown in the Other Title field of this item record.