Welcome back to OrgBites!
In this edition, I want to talk about a really cool article that was recently featured in The New York Times. The article explores how CEOs and executives are increasingly using psilocybin and other psychedelic drugs, often attending retreats to have eye-opening, mind-expanding experiences. It’s a fascinating piece, and I’ll link to it for you to check out—I highly recommend giving it a read.
What intrigues me most is why these leaders are pursuing these experiences and what it might mean for you if, hypothetically, your CEO announced they were taking a few days off for such a retreat. As someone who is personally quite prudish about drug use, I find the initial research both surprising and encouraging. I recently analyzed 13 papers on the topic, and one consistent finding, also mentioned in the article, is that psychedelics appear to increase brain entropy. This essentially means there’s more activity happening in the brain, fostering an openness to new perspectives, self-reflection, and particularly a closer examination of one’s ego.
The article highlights concepts like “ego depletion,” “ego death,” and the transformative, though not fully understood, effects psychedelics may have on the psyche. This psychodynamic shift could have profound implications for leadership and innovation. But here’s the question: how would you feel if your CEO decided to do this?
Imagine this happening at your organization. Would you be excited? Perhaps it would depend on your opinion of the CEO. If you like them, you might hope it leads to personal growth—but maybe worry they might return with a newfound desire to quit their job, as has reportedly happened with some executives. On the other hand, if you’re not a fan of your CEO, you might see it as a chance for them to gain fresh perspectives or foster innovation.
There’s definitely a trendiness surrounding psychedelics right now, but some recent studies have been criticized for overly optimistic interpretations. While the field has a history dating back to the 1960s, there’s been a significant gap in controlled experimentation due to decades of conservatism. We still have much to learn about how these substances interact with the brain. However, in the right circumstances, under proper guidance, they could potentially have meaningful benefits.
That said, there’s also the question of public perception. Many CEOs and executives attend these retreats anonymously, likely due to concerns about how their employees, boards, or even the public might react. Imagine if a major company in your investment portfolio announced their CEO was attending a six-day psychedelic retreat. Would that inspire confidence? Cause fear? Perhaps it would depend on the company’s recent performance and your view of their leadership.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Drop me a comment—whether you’re reading this on Substack, YouTube, or elsewhere. What would it be like for you to find out that your senior leaders were engaging in this type of activity? I’m curious to know.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you soon!
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