I tend to form close working relationships with my clients. They talk openly and honestly about their businesses and most of what they say doesn’t make it into the media. Sometimes my client is the business’ sole decision-maker. Because the buck stops with them, they make the calls.
It’s different in a corporate structure, where decision-making is less direct. Shareholders, employees and customers – the stakeholders – don’t always want the same thing from a company. Oftentimes that becomes most apparent when you’re deciding what to say and how to say it.
Decisions define us – as individuals and groups – so let’s scratch the surface right there.
Personal agency
Ideas about personal agency can be traced back to ancient Greek thinkers like Aristotle and Plato, who explored concepts of free will, self-determination, and responsibility.
In the seventeenth century, René Descartes famously said: “Cogito, ergo sum” which translates to “I think, therefore I am”. This laid the groundwork for understanding the self as an independent, thinking being with agency.
Personal agency became a cornerstone of psychology. It refers to an individual’s capacity to make choices, act independently, and influence their life path. It’s the feeling of being in control, shaping your own narrative, and having the power to pursue your desires.
This involves:
Intentionality: Having goals and desires that guide your actions.
Autonomy: Making choices based on your own values and preferences.
Self-efficacy: Believing in your ability to achieve your goals.
Reflective capacity: Learning from experiences and adapting your approach.
Is it possible for a group to possess these characteristics? Does the Springbok team have agency, your company, or a global brand? Does a collection of individuals acting within a structured entity truly exhibit agency?
Proponents of corporate agency argue that companies can exert intentionality through strategic planning and collective decision-making. They can act autonomously by pursuing goals independent of external pressures. They possess self-efficacy through their ability to adapt and innovate. Finally, they demonstrate reflective capacity by learning from successes and failures.
Yet, unlike individuals, groups lack the subjective experience of choice and intention. Their actions are ultimately driven by the interests of stakeholders and market forces, not individual desires. Corporations also lack the capacity for self-reflection; their “learning” occurs through data analysis, not personal growth.
Perhaps the most significant difference lies in the ethical dimension. Personal agency carries moral responsibility for choices made. Corporations, however, cannot be held accountable in the same way.
It’s more accurate to view corporations as complex systems – a collective outcome of individual actions within a defined structure.
Conclusion
There’s a place in the world for personal agency, a uniquely human phenomenon. I find that I’m increasingly using Apps in my work, but the ideas, choices and decisions are still up to me.
The decisions you make as an individual and the shared direction of your company remain under your control. Whether you operate as a single entrepreneur or a corporate business, it’s up to you to write your own narrative.
Image Photo by Fernando Santander on Unsplash
