Guest Blog Post by Bruce Hoppe: What does leadership look like?

Author: Bruce Hoppe

Source: http://connectedness.blogspot.com

Date: 6/4/2010

The Leadership Learning Community is hosting an interesting conversation on network leadership. As part of that dialogue, Claire Reinelt put to me the question, "What does leadership look like in a healthy network?"

In response, I turn to The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu. This ancient Chinese book of wisdom has inspired many translators to describe leaders and leadership of healthy networks. A few examples are below.

The best leader is one whose existence is barely known by the people.
True Persons do not offer words lightly.
When their task is accomplished and their work is completed,
The people say, "It happened to us naturally."

When the Master governs, the people are hardly aware that he exists.

The Master doesn't talk, he acts.

When his work is done, the people say,

"Amazing: we did it all by ourselves!"

The "very highest" by those below is just known to exist.

He takes his time, oh, as he weighs his words carefully.

And, when success is had and the task accomplished,

The common folk all say, "We just live naturally."

To know Tao alone without trace of your own existence is the highest.

The great ruler speaks little and his words are priceless.

He works without self-interest and leaves no trace.

When all is finished, the people say, "It happened by itself."

The very highest is barely known by men.

When actions are performed

Without unnecessary speech,

People say, "We did it!"

BTW, this is not the first time the Tao Te Ching has graced these pages.

• See here for Taoist perspective on the spread of information.
• See here and here for Taoist perspective on naming and organizing things.