31: Intervention

The wise project manager does not interfere; delicate facilitation is the way of the project manager.

The Tao

Lao Tsu tells us:

Good weapons are instruments of fear; all creatures hate them.

Therefore followers of the Tao never use them.

The wise man prefers the left.

The man of war prefers the right.

Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man’s tools.

He uses them only when he has no choice.

Peace and quiet are dear to his heart,

And victory no cause for rejoicing.

If you rejoice in victory, then you delight in killing;

If you delight in killing, you cannot fulfil yourself.

On happy occasions precedence is given to the left,

On sad occasions to the right.

In the army the general stands on the left,

The commander in chief on the right.

This means that war is conducted like a funeral.

When many people are being killed,

They should be mourned in heartfelt sorrow.

That is why a victory must be observed like a funeral.

30: Force and Conflict

The wise project manager understands the way, does not interfere and uses as little force as possible. 

The Tao

Lao Tsu tells us:

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.

Force is followed by loss of strength.

This is not the way of the Tao.

That which goes against the Tao comes to an early end.

29: The Paradox of Pushing

The wise project manager knows he is there to support the team and encourage them, not to interfere.

The Tao

Lao Tsu tells us:

Do you think you can take over the universe and improve it?

I do not believe it can be done.

The universe is sacred.

You cannot improve it.

If you try to change it, you will ruin it.

If you try to hold it, you will loose it.

Sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind;

Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily;

Sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness;

Sometimes one is up and sometimes down.

Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses and complacency.

28: Warrior and Healer

During the middle to late stages of a project there are often battles to be fought by the project manager. Knowing when to act, when to listen and when to withdraw is the way of the project manager.

The Tao

Lao Tsu tells us to:

Know the strength of man,

But keep a woman’s care!

Be the stream of the universe!

Being the stream of the universe,

Ever true and unswerving,

Become as a little child once more.

Know the white,

But keep the black!

Be an example to the world!

Being an example to the world,

Ever true and unswerving,

Return to the infinite.

Know honour,

Yet keep humility.

Be the valley of the universe!

Being the valley of the universe,

Ever true and resourceful,

Return to the state of the uncarved block.

When the block is carved, it becomes useful.

When the sage uses it, he becomes the ruler.

Thus “A great tailor cuts little.”