Tao Te Ching on Leadership: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Leaders
Management and team-building punchlines
The Tao Te Ching's model of leadership is one of the most radical in any philosophical tradition: the best leader is one whose people feel they accomplished things themselves. Lao Tzu says in Chapter 17: "When the best leader's work is done, the people say: we did it ourselves." This servant-leadership philosophy — minimizing ego, leading by example, creating conditions for others to succeed rather than directing every action — predates modern servant leadership theory by 2,500 years and addresses many of its core principles.
Chapter 17
In the highest antiquity, (the people) did not know that there were (their rulers). In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them. Thus it was that when faith (in the Tao) was deficient (in the rulers) a want of faith in them ensued (in the people). How irresolute did those (earliest rulers) appear, showing (by their reticenc
Read commentary →Chapter 57
A state may be ruled by (measures of) correction; weapons of war may be used with crafty dexterity; (but) the kingdom is made one's own (only) by freedom from action and purpose. How do I know that it is so? By these facts:--In the kingdom the multiplication of prohibitive enactments increases the poverty of the people; the more implements to add to their profit that the people have, the gr
Read commentary →Chapter 60
Governing a great state is like cooking small fish. Let the kingdom be governed according to the Tao, and the manes of the departed will not manifest their spiritual energy. It is not that those manes have not that spiritual energy, but it will not be employed to hurt men. It is not that it could not hurt men, but neither does the ruling sage hurt them. When these two do not injuriously af
Read commentary →Chapter 66
That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage and tribute of all the valley streams, is their skill in being lower than they;--it is thus that they are the kings of them all. So it is that the sage (ruler), wishing to be above men, puts himself by his words below them, and, wishing to be before them, places his person behind them. In this way though he has his place above
Read commentary →Chapter 68
He who in (Tao's) wars has skill Assumes no martial port; He who fights with most good will To rage makes no resort. He who vanquishes yet still Keeps from his foes apart; He whose hests men most fulfil Yet humbly plies his art. Thus we say, 'He ne'er contends, And therein is his might.' Thus we say, 'Men's wills he bends, That they with him unite.' Thus we say, 'Like Heaven's his ends
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What does the Tao Te Ching say about leadership?
Chapter 17 describes four types of leaders, with the highest being one who is barely known — because things happen so naturally under them that people don't notice the leadership. Chapter 8 describes the ideal leader as water: benefiting everything, seeking the lowest places, not competing. The consistent thread in Lao Tzu's leadership philosophy is restraint — the most effective leaders use the minimum force necessary and create space for others.