The Tao of Leadership

The Tao of Leadership is rewrites the Tao Te Ching as a guide for space holders and workshop facilitators and it works surprisingly well. The poetic language transmits something that is difficult to catch and opens for the deeper dimensions of what leadership is. 

The Tao of Leadership: Lau Tzu´s Tao Te Ching Adapted for a New Age.
John Heider (1985): Humanics New Age.
 

I really enjoyed this one. Someone recommended it to me a couple of years ago, but I just got around to reading it this autumn. The author uses the structure from the Dao De Jing to write about leadership in general and group leadership specifically.

This was really nice to read as i found that the more poetic language far better catches the subtleties of leadership in the practices I am engaged with. 

And I felt inspired to write a verse of my own after reading it.

Surrendered Leadership

Become still and your leadership will be spontaneous and natural.
Pay attention to the silence. What is happening when nothing is happening?
Give up your efforts (to understand) and become silent. Listen and trust.

Do not resist what is happening. Be like the water and follow freely.
Be in service of presence rather than facilitating what you think should be happening.
The leader is present. When presence is felt, the people can lead themselves.

Allow yourself to be simple. Tell the truth.
Give up on looking good and you become very impressive indeed.
Little is done, but a great deal happens.

Stay grounded and centered. These are the roots of effortless action.
Discern when it is time to act and when it is time to listen.
Spontaneously respond to what is happening.

Advance only where you encounter no resistance.
Do not use force. Neither defend or attack.
Gentleness and yielding overcomes rigid resistances.

Live in the tension between unity and complexity.
Stay open to what is emerging.

Thank you For reading this!

This article was written by Peter Munthe-Kaas. If you feel like something is missing or want to add something feel free to get in touch.

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