The Tao of Leadership: Understanding Ourselves in Connection with Others and Our Changing Context

Taoism is about understanding ourselves in connection with others and our changing context. It is an ancient Chinese philosophy that dates back at least 2,500 years.

Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy that emphasizes the importance of understanding ourselves in connection with others and our ever-changing context. It encourages us to find ways to express this understanding naturally and organically in our actions and interactions in the world.

This concept of interconnectedness is a key aspect of Taoism. It doesn't just want us to drift and stagnate; it wants us to accept that we're all part of a deeper reality. It's when we recognize our profound interconnections with others and accept that when we're fighting others, we're really fighting ourselves, that the Tao (the Way) really comes into view.

This might sound a bit mystical or esoteric, but that's sort of the point. Taoism tells us that there's a value to the mystical and also a value to the practical and scientific. They're two sides of the same coin—and we need both working in harmony to realize our full potential.

So, what does that mean for leaders? Well, it means that the “Tao of Leadership” isn't just an injunction telling us to chill out and let ourselves be carried wherever the wind blows. Instead, it's more about understanding ourselves in connection with others and our changing context and finding ways to express that understanding naturally and organically in how we act in the world.

This is where the “effortlessness” of Taoism comes into play. When you truly understand your own connectedness to others, it doesn't feel hard to manifest that connection in the way you act and lead—it flows naturally from you and inspires others to manifest the same kind of understanding naturally.

This same kind of natural, effortless, and inspiring understanding is also at the heart of Knowledge Mindfulness. When we understand our knowledge on a deep level and how it interconnects with our being and doing, we will be able to work from a place of knowledge and maturity that will manifest in all dimensions of our lives.

It isn't difficult to bring those insights into the way we live. In fact, it happens naturally—because Knowledge Mindfulness lets us engage more fully and openly with others and resolve the conflicts and confusion that slow us down. Both live and lead with dynamism and infectious joy.

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