Developing Practically Wise Leaders Through Serious Play

The contemporary challenge of leadership has been framed in terms of dealing authentically, ethically, and effectively with the complexity and uncertainty of organizational life. This article draws on research in the fields of psychology and philosophy to introduce practical wisdom as a new way to conceptualize optimal leadership practice. The authors propose that practically wise leaders can be effectively developed by using serious play techniques. Empirical data are presented to illustrate this proposition, and several implications for the field of consulting psychology are outlined.