[Vnbiz] Leadership -- What are you looking for in your leader?

[AD Marshall]

And i SWEAR, this is the LAST of THIS monologue i'm indulging in now on
leadership.

I just looked through the "Tao Te King" (Book of Tao [Đạo]),
http://www.iging.com/laotse/LaotseE.htm to see what "Lao Tse" [Lão Tử]
supposedly had (or Taoism [đạo Lão] still has) to say about leadership
(called "ruling" at the time of writing).  It might be worth (re)considering
that the following extracts may be some of the first words ever recorded on
leadership -- and may still even be, i'll dare say, the greatest.  Warning:
"Lao Tzu" had a lot more to say on leadership than i remembered, but
easy-reading still.

If i remember correctly, for once, the following words were basically
coerced out of their author as he was leaving the greatest society, culture
and civilization of his times to become a hermit, somewhere between the 6th
and 3rd centuries, BC.

(A comparable famous thinker in Western culture, with similar if more long,
complex writings, was "Henry David Thoreau (July
12<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_12>,
1817 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1817> – May
6<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_6>,
1862 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1862>...), an
American<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States>author,
naturalist <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_history>,
transcendentalist<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendentalism>,
tax resister <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_resistance>, development
critic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_criticism>, and
philosopher<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy>who is best known
for
*Walden <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walden>*, a reflection upon simple
living <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living> in natural surroundings,
and his essay, *Civil
Disobedience<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Disobedience_%28Thoreau%29>
*, an argument for individual resistance to civil
government<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_disobedience>in moral
opposition to an unjust state." [Source: Wikipedia])

Check out Lao Tzu on leadership.  Decide for your self.  He doesn't say you
have turn your back on society, the economy or contemporary problems to be a
great leader -- though he seems to suggest it might help if you did, in
reverse-psychology sort of way... ;)  I've re-ordered these verses a bit, to
put the ones most relevant to this thread up first.



Thirty
Whenever you advise a ruler in the way of Tao,
Counsel him not to use force to conquer the universe.
For this would only cause resistance.
Thorn bushes spring up wherever the army has passed.
Lean years follow in the wake of a great war.
Just do what needs to be done.
Never take advantage of power.

Achieve results,
But never glory in them.
Achieve results,
But never boast.
Achieve results,
But never be proud.
Achieve results,
Because this is the natural way.
Achieve results,
But not through violence.

Fifty-nine
In caring for others and serving heaven,
There is nothing like using restraint.
Restraint begins with giving up one's own ideas.
This depends on Virtue gathered in the past.
If there is a good store of Virtue, then nothing is impossible.
If nothing is impossible, then there are no limits.
If a man knows no limits, then he is fit to be a ruler.
The mother principle of ruling holds good for a long time.
This is called having deep roots and a firm foundation,
The Tao of long life and eternal vision.

Sixty-six
Why is the sea king of a hundred streams?
Because it lies below them.
Therefore it is the king of a hundred streams.

If the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility.
If he would lead them, he must follow behind.
In this way when the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed;
When he stands before them, they will not be harmed.
The whole world will support him and will not tire of him.

Because he does not compete,
He does not meet competition.

Seventy-five
Why are the people starving?
Because the rulers eat up the money in taxes.
Therefore the people are starving.

Why are the people rebellious?
Because the rulers interfere too much.
Therefore they are rebellious.

Why do the people think so little of death?
Because the rulers demand too much of life.
Therefore the people take death lightly.

Having little to live on, one knows better than to value life too much.


Seventy-eight
Under heaven nothing is more soft and yielding than water.
Yet for attacking the solid and strong, nothing is better;
It has no equal.
The weak can overcome the strong;
The supple can overcome the stiff.
Under heaven everyone knows this,
Yet no one puts it into practice.
Therefore the sage says:
He who takes upon himself the humiliation of the people is fit to rule them.
He who takes upon himself the country's disasters deserves to be king of the
universe.
The truth often sounds paradoxical.

Fifty-eight
When the country is ruled with a light hand
The people are simple.
When the country is ruled with severity,
The people are cunning.

Happiness is rooted in misery.
Misery lurks beneath happiness.
Who knows what the future holds?
There is no honesty.
Honesty becomes dishonest.
Goodness becomes witchcraft.
Man's bewitchment lasts for a long time.

Sixty-five
In the beginning those who knew the Tao did not try to enlighten others,
But kept it hidden.
Why is it so hard to rule?
Because people are so clever.
Rulers who try to use cleverness
Cheat the country.
Those who rule without cleverness
Are a blessing to the land.
These are the two alternatives.

Forty-eight
In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired.
In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.

Less and less is done
Until non-action is achieved.
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.

The world is ruled by letting things take their course.
It cannot be ruled by interfering.


Three
Not exalting the gifted prevents quarreling.
Not collecting treasures prevents stealing.
Not seeing desirable things prevents confusion of the heart.

The wise therefore rule by emptying hearts and stuffing bellies, by
weakening ambitions and strengthening bones.
If men lack knowledge and desire, then clever people will not try to
interfere.
If nothing is done, then all will be well.




Later,
AD



On 7/21/07, AD Marshall <admarshall at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Sorry, but some quotes i remember are haunting me, along with some i just
> discovered, regarding "honesty" as a criterion for a leader of any
> significant number of people.
>
> First, i think i can say that any leader of any group of people must by
> definition be a politician, professional or amateur, consciously or not, and
> the more people are led, the more of a politician that leader must be.  No?
> These aphorisms seem to support as much:
>
>    - ... man is... a political animal - Aristotle, Politics, Bk. I, ch.
>    2, 1253a, line 1
>    - All issues are political issues... - George Orwell, Politics and
>    the English Language, 1946
>
> Given that, these quotes seem to preclude consistent honesty in any sort
> of leadership that involves significant numbers of people:
>
>    - If you begin by saying, "Thou shalt not lie," there is no longer
>    any possibility of political action. - Jean-Paul Sartre, quoted in obituary,
>    Time, 28 April 1980
>    - ... people of superior refinement and of active disposition
>    identify happiness with honour; for this is, roughly speaking, the end of
>    political life. - Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. 1, ch. 5, 1095b, lines
>    22-23
>    - [the remainder of the quote above from Orwell] ... and politics
>    itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.
>
> All quotes above are from "The Great Thoughts", compiled by George Seldes,
> 1985, Ballantine Books, New York.  This one, included mainly for its
> amusement value, is from http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_politics.html ::
>
> I love a dog. He does nothing for political reasons. - Will Rogers
>
> This one is from a great web page called "Quotes about Lies" by Jennifer
> M. C. Vendemia, Ph.D, who "for the last three years... has worked as a
> Principal Investigator on a grant through the Department of Defense
> Polygraph Institute studying the cognitive correlates of deception.",
> http://www.vendemia.net/quotables.htm
>
> An omnipotent God is the only being with no reason to lie.
> -- Mason Cooley (b. 1927), U.S . aphorist. City Aphorisms, Fourth
> Selection, New York (1987).
>
> And this last one, which may well explain most of the above, is from the
> Quotations Page:
>
> It is by universal misunderstanding that all agree. For if, by ill luck,
> people understood each other, they would never agree.
> -- *Charles Baudelaire
> <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Charles_Baudelaire/>**, French poet
> (1821 - 1867)*
>
> Now, i've noted that the rough criteria you listed for "honesty" do not
> explicitly include abstaining from deception, but can i presume that that
> would fit somewhere within "integrity, trustworthiness, reliability,
> dependability"?  If so, should we not qualify "honesty" considerably as a
> criterion for the leadership of people?
>
> Just a couple more dong's worth from the loyal opposition of the devil's
> advocacy. ;)
>
> With warm wishes,
> Andi
>
>
> On 7/21/07, AD Marshall <admarshall at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Wow, A Hoanh,
> >
> > That was a truly impressive analysis, re-presentation (synthesis) and
> > enhancement of the lists posted.  I have to wonder at how you can afford the
> > time for as much.  Thanks.  You should work it up and publish it.
> >
> >
> > On 7/21/07, Tran Dinh Hoanh <tdhoanh at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> > >
> > >
> > > Dear CACC,
> > >
> > > Looks like we have got all the volunteers for short list.  So let me
> > > try to go over everything from everyone so far to construct a short list.
> > >
> > > A.  First, let start with the most simple common-sense definition of
> > > "leader."  Leader is (1) the person who leads (2) a group of people (3) to a
> > > destination.
> > >
> > > So leadership involves you, your people and the goal.
> > >
> > > 1.  The goal is what we call "vision," some destination in the future
> > > to arrive, some purpose to achieve.   "Vision" always implies with it
> > > "the method to achieve the vision" (because without a method get to the
> > > vision, the vision is only a daydream).   So the first obvious element of
> > > leadership is the "vision and the way to achieve the vision."  Brother Thien
> > > mentioned this point abut goal (vision) in his message.
> > >
> > > Because "vision" always implies "the way to achieve vision," most
> > > people just use one word "vision" to indicate both.
> > >
> > > Please note: "The way to achieve vision" is usually very general. Say,
> > > Ho Chi Minh's vision is "Freedom, Independence and Happiness," which during
> > > his life time meant "independence from the French."  His "way" is that the
> > > entire people would fight the French, never stopping, never quitting, until
> > > we win.   This "way" is very general. It is not as detailed and
> > > concrete as the strategies and tactics used daily during the war, which are
> > > of a technical nature and are done by his lieutenants.
> > >
> > >
> > > 2.   Now you and your people.  As a matter of common sense, people
> > > follow you because they believe in you and your vision.
> > >
> > > They believe in your vision because, after listening to what you say
> > > and your vision, they agree with your vision and like your vision.
> > >
> > > They believe in you because (1) they believe that you are capable of
> > > leading them to your vision.  This is "competence" (or a more general term
> > > "wisdom", or a some more narrow terms-- "Intelligence," "knowledge").  In
> > > other words, They believe that "you know what you are doing."
> > >
> > > People also believe in you because they believe that you are honest,
> > > that what you say about your vision and your way is your honest words, that
> > > what you say about you is your honest words, and that they can trust your
> > > words. So, "honesty" is another core element.  Honesty can also be replaced
> > > by other terms, such as integrity, trustworthiness, reliable, dependable,
> > > etc.
> > >
> > > *So, from the point of view of your followers, your leadership has 3
> > > core elements:*
> > > **
> > > *1.  Your vision (and they way to the vision)*
> > > *2.  Your competence (you know what you doing--also known as
> > > intelligence, knowledge, wisdom)*
> > > *3.  Your honesty (also known as integrity, trustworthiness, reliable,
> > > dependable)*
> > > **
> > > B.  The above is a look at leadership from the follower's point of
> > > view.  Now let's look at leadership from the leader's point of view.
> > >
> > > 1.  First, of course, you, as a leader, has to have a vision (and the
> > > way to achieve vision).
> > >
> > > But, how to have a vision that your people really love?  The answer,
> > > you have to understand your people's heart and mind so well that you can
> > > design a vision that satisfies their heart's yearning.
> > >
> > > 2.  But how do you understand your people's hearts and minds so
> > > well?   Having a PhD in psychology?  Having a crystal ball?  The only answer
> > > I know is that you have to truly love your people.  I don't know of any
> > > other way to understand someone other than you have to really loves them.
> > > You may be a good communicator or good analyst, but if you don't really love
> > > someone, the most you can do is to understand a very small facet of her, not
> > > the whole of her.  You cannot understand someone so well and so deep without
> > > really loving him/her.
> > >
> > > (Note:  Many parents may say that they love their children so much
> > > that they force all they children to be doctors and lawyers to be better in
> > > life.  Sorry, that is not loving your children.  That is "loving your future
> > > image of your children" or "loving your own self, loving to be a parent of a
> > > bunch of doctors and lawyers." That is not loving your children.  Same thing
> > > with government that runs after its own idea of how its people should be,
> > > instead of truly understanding and loving the real people who walk the
> > > streets, who have real feelings and real struggles).
> > >
> > > Once you really love your people, you should be able to understand
> > > them well enough to come up with a vision that fits their yearning.
> > >
> > > So, from the leader's point of view, the second core element is "love
> > > your people"(also known as compassion, grace, caring, social responsibility,
> > > etc.)
> > >
> > > From a true love for your people, you will be able to love
> > > properly, like, as anh Shane said, loving everyone of your people equally,
> > > loving the entirety of "your people" and protecting it against the
> > > destruction by a bad portion of your people, only asking your people to do
> > > what you would do yourself, fair in reward and punishment, etc.  All these
> > > forms of loving measures flow naturally from true love.
> > >
> > > 3.  And if you really love your people, you will become competent in
> > > leading your people.  Say, if you really love your daughter and she is
> > > really sick, and although you are not a doctor, you would be able to do your
> > > own research to understand a lot about the disease and about available
> > > doctors and hospitals out there, to find the best, the most competent
> > > treatment for her.  Competetence is a matter of learning and if you really
> > > love someone you will know how to learn and to get the professional help to
> > > do the best job for them.
> > >
> > > (If you know that you, even with professional technical help, are not
> > > competent to be the leader, and if you truly love your people, then you
> > > wouldn't take the leadership position anyway).
> > >
> > > Thus, from the leadership's point of view, competence is a necessity,
> > > but a necessity that would flow naturally from true love.  We don't really
> > > need to mention competence separately.
> > >
> > > 4.  About honesty, I would also that honesty is the most natural thing
> > > that flows from true love.  When you love someone, you would be honest with
> > > him/her.
> > >
> > > *So, from the leadership's point of view, leadership has 2 core
> > > elements: *
> > > **
> > > *First, a vision (and the way to the vision)*
> > > *Second, Compassion for your people.*
> > >
> > > *If we put the two points of view together* in a list and do not
> > > distinguish follower's view or leader's view, *we have a list with 4
> > > core elements of leadership: *
> > > **
> > > *1.  Vision *
> > > *2.  Compassion (love, care, understanding, grace)*
> > > *3.  Comptence (wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, effectiveness)*
> > > *4.  Honesty (integrity, trustworthiness, reliability, dependability)*
> > > **
> > > Please feel free to chip in.
> > >
> > > In the next message I will go over one important point in anh Shane's
> > > list:  Protecting the entirely of your people (by sacrificing a small
> > > portion of it, when necessary).  This is probably what brother Hien calls
> > > "toughness" and other folks call "Making the hard decision."
> > >
> > > Have a great weekend, everyone!
> > >
> > > Hoanh
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 7/19/07, Hien Nguyen <hnguyen97 at gmail.com > wrote:
> > >
> > > > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Dear CACE,
> > > >
> > > > It's entertaining to see how social theories can be condensed into
> > > > one or two sentences. Thanks anh Hoanh.
> > > >
> > > > I'd like to volunteer three core elements; but before I list them
> > > > out, I explain the way to build up the concepts.
> > > >
> > > > From a mathematical perspective,  three "core" elements should be
> > > > distinctive, and complement others to make other elements, namely three
> > > > vectors. If we rotate all three vectors by few degrees, they will be another
> > > > three "core" elements.
> > > >
> > > > I select:
> > > >
> > > > LOVE
> > > > WISDOM
> > > > and TOUGHNESS
> > > >
> > > > as core elements.
> > > >
> > > > Have a great day,
> > > > Hien
> > > > --
> > > > Tran Dinh Hoanh, LLB, JD
> > > > Washington DC
> > >
> > >
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>
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