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How the english Bard can transform leaders,
teams, and projects through art, strategy, and neuroscience.
Planning with emotional intelligence,
strategic vision, and a sense of humanity is an art — and Shakespeare, more
than any modern manual, has much to teach us about it. From tragic kings to
disguised visionaries, his plays offer valuable mental maps for 21st-century
leaders and workers.
Few names in human
history combine the power of words, the understanding of human nature, and the
ability to anticipate scenarios as powerfully as William Shakespeare. Far more
than a playwright, he was a strategist, philosopher, and psychologist ahead of
his time. In his works, we find kings who failed due to lack of vision,
generals who triumphed through cunning, lovers who devised bold plans, and
villains who manipulated with frightening intelligence. If we observe closely,
every one of Shakespeare’s plays is also a treatise on planning — and this can
benefit leaders, managers, workers, and educators alike.
When we think of
strategic planning, we often imagine spreadsheets, goals, charts. But true
planning begins before all that: in the mind, in language, in contextual
awareness. This is where Shakespeare becomes a silent master. In Hamlet,
for example, we see a young prince facing a moral and political crisis. Instead
of acting impulsively, he analyzes, simulates, performs. He rehearses
possibilities, tests limits, and reconstructs his worldview. This behavior is
what neuroscientists now call mental prototyping — the ability to
imagine multiple scenarios before taking action. And that is an essential skill
for any kind of planning.
Curiosity Box
Recent research from Harvard University has shown
that deep reading of classical texts, such as Shakespeare’s, activates brain
areas related to planning and empathy — two of the top skills for the 21st
century.
When we compare
Shakespeare to modern methodologies of human and organizational development, we
realize how much his work is aligned with the most current trends. Professor
and researcher Antônio Carlos dos Santos, a reference in education, theater and
planning, developed methodologies such as Quasar K+ Strategic Planning, which combines
systemic vision, creativity and a focus on results. Inspired by narrative
structures such as Shakespeare's plays, Quasar K+ proposes mapping “social
actors”, identifying central conflicts and projecting sustainable outcomes. It
is planning as dramaturgy applied to real life.
Practical Tip
Use the Quasar K+ methodology with your team by designing
a "strategic script" in three acts: 1) Diagnosis — where are we? 2)
Conflict — what needs to change? 3) Resolution — what is the action plan? Use
examples from "Macbeth" to illustrate what happens when ambition
overtakes ethical planning.
In King Lear,
Shakespeare shows what happens when a leader decides without considering
long-term consequences. By dividing his kingdom among his daughters, Lear
creates a crisis that destroys his family and authority. In the corporate
world, this warns us of the importance of decisions based not on vanity, but on
data, ethics, and purpose. Planning also means knowing how to listen, weighing
scenarios, and taking responsibility. In times of fluid leadership, where
everything changes quickly, Shakespeare’s tragedies serve as manuals of what to
avoid and what to strengthen.
Inspiring Story
A public management team in a small town in Minas
Gerais, Brazil, used the Quasar K+ methodology to develop a youth-focused
government plan. Drawing inspiration from the play "Henry V", where a
young king takes the crown with insecurity but seeks popular support, the
managers created a youth listening program including debates, theater circles,
and co-created public policies. What was initially a technical, cold plan came
to life through dramatic strategy.
In the educational
field, the integration of methodologies such as MAT (Mindset, Action and
Theater), ThM (Theater Movement), and TBMB (Mané Beiçudo Puppet Theater), also
created by Antônio Carlos dos Santos, has shown remarkable results in
developing socioemotional skills. Using excerpts from Shakespeare in classroom
theater practices — whether through body movement (ThM), dramatized
interpretation (MAT), or puppet scripting (TBMB) — allows participants to
reflect on ethical dilemmas, strategies, and consequences in a playful and
engaging way.
Science supports this
practice. Recent studies from Stanford University indicate that theater
activates brain regions associated with theory of mind and problem-solving. In
other words, by portraying and understanding a character, we train the brain to
lead with empathy, think strategically, and communicate with impact. That’s why
the books Strategic Communication: the art of speaking well, Breathing,
Voice and Diction, and Moving Letters: the art of writing well, all
by Antônio Carlos dos Santos, are essential guides for those who want to
connect language, emotion, and planning effectively.
Motivational Quote:
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women
merely players.” — Shakespeare, in As
You Like It
Reading Shakespeare
today is a way to prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. Planning is not just about
predicting the future — it’s about understanding human motivations, character
flaws, blind spots, and hidden desires that move people and projects. In Julius
Caesar, we see how the manipulation by Brutus and Cassius is more about
psychology and discourse than military tactics. And this teaches us that
leadership power lies more in words than in weapons.
By merging literature,
neuroscience, and strategic planning, the work of Antônio Carlos dos Santos
shows that we can shape leaders who are more creative, ethical, and empathetic.
A good plan, like a good play, needs structure, well-defined characters, a
consistent narrative, and above all, purpose. Shakespeare already knew this.
And we, by revisiting him with contemporary eyes, can also learn to write and
live our own scripts of transformation.
Access the books by Antônio Carlos dos Santos on amazon.com or amazon.com.br
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