Marianne Kiskola: Internal climate change – A matter of honor

Philotimo is a Greek word that few know. The word comes from the Greek words "filos," which means friend, and "timi," which means honor. So, translated quickly, the word could be thought to mean 'friend of honor.' And indeed, it is, but also much more. If you are called a philotimos person, you can consider it the highest honor you could receive. It means you are seen as one of the most valuable members of your community.

If an organization or community wants to be unbeatable, it should invest in ensuring that all its members at least strive towards philotimo. But what is this superpower?

Saint Paisios of Mount Athos has aptly described the meaning of philotimo as "a deeply rooted awareness in the heart that motivates a person to do good. A philotimos person is a neighbor who thinks and eagerly implements good things."

For thousands of years, the Greeks have kept their culture vibrant and their communities strong by relying on philotimo. Our Finnish culture is younger, but it shares something similar. For us, too, it is a matter of honor that our country is independent and strong. With the same patriotic vigor, we should regard our businesses and the organizations we work in—no matter what our role is.

Living by philotimo means striving for good. You know in your heart what is right and what is wrong. You are proud of yourself, your family, your community, your country, and that you are doing "the right things." You value your work and your tasks. You do not take the people or things in your life for granted; instead, they are a matter of honor for you, and you do everything to represent them worthily.

Honor. There's a word you rarely hear in corporate kick-off days or in stock offering speeches. Should it be heard more?

Before we can talk more about honor, we need to examine what it includes. In the military articles of Charles XI printed in 1682, the adjectives of honorableness—i.e., virtues—were defined as follows:

Desirable virtues that keep one on the path of honor:

Fear of God
Decency
Obedience
Firmness
Manliness
Courage
Morality
Submissiveness
Sacrifice
Loyalty
Sense of duty
Understanding

This code of honor for warriors was a guarantee that a soldier honored not only themselves but also their army and the authority. That is, their colleagues and their superior.

If the definition of the path of honor were updated, gratitude would be an important signpost.

Think for a moment how invincible a company would be where every employee is proud to come to work every morning and grateful to be a member of this unique, honorable work community? Every victory would be both a personal and a company victory.

Far-fetched? Not at all. A glance at football matches tells you everything essential. The teams that win are those where players remember who they represent: with pride their club, teammates, coach, and country. Themselves last. If selflessness is forgotten, the bench reminds them. But you don't end up there if you play by the rules of Philotimo.

Marianne Kiskola is a guest blogger on the Frontline Forum, writing from the perspective of a language researcher and her second home country, Greece, about "internal climate change." Marianne is a language researcher, screenwriter, and non-fiction author with 11 published books, and a journalist with a strong background in communication and leadership. Currently, Marianne is working on her doctoral thesis on the language of encounter at the University of Jyväskylä, where she also lectures and coaches.