Friday, August 05, 2016

Soft Leadership

Continuing the theme of soft leadership, I like to think back to some of the project managers I have worked with over the years and a handful stand out for one main quality, their selflessness. 

A project manager who is selfish and thinks only of himself, will either alienate the rest of the team, or worse still, the rest of the team will think that is the correct way to behave and start to develop similar characteristics.  It stands to reason that a good, supportive project manager will make the whole team feel better.  And if the team feels better they will perform better.  

The Way
The the wise project manager shows enlightened leadership through service.  He puts the well-being of the team above that of himself. 

The Tao  
Lao Tzu tells us:

Heaven and earth are long-lasting.  
Why are they long-lasting?  
They use no personal agenda,  
So they can last a long time.  

Therefore the sage stays behind, and proceeds.  
Is detached from all things, and continues.  
By not having a personal agenda,  
He is able to accomplish great things.  

No comments: