A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
The Tao of Leadership is one of those books that every leader needs to own, to read, and to reread on a regular basis.
When things are not going as I think they should, I want to jump in and fix everything with the team by telling everyone what to do. Well, hold on Sherlock! That may produce the opposite effect than intended.
The laws of nature, when observed and followed, will bring more energy to your success than you can by forcing things. The effective leader is observing, listening, and thinking.
Here’s a quote from the book, The Tao of Leadership, by John Heider:
As a warrior, the leader acts with power and decision. Most of the time, however, the leader acts as a healer and in an open, receptive, and nourishing state. This mixture of doing and being, of warrior and healer, is both productive and potent. There is a third aspect of leadership: Tao. Periodically, the leader withdraws from the group and returns to silence. A brilliant warrior does not make every possible intervention. A knowing healer takes time to nourish self as well as others. The leader who knows when to listen, when to act, and when to withdraw can work effectively with nearly anyone. ( pg. 55)
You might have the right answer.
You might know the right time.
Consider the opposite of your feelings.
Less is more.
Hugh Ballou The Transformational Leadership Strategist
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