Specialties

What makes an effective leader? In western societies, it is becoming more common to seek leaders with authoritarian leadership styles accompanied by charismatic and powerful traits. Some leaders adopt the role of master or teacher, imparting their knowledge onto others, knowingly or unknowingly creating an unspoken declaration, “I have the answers. Allow me to explain”. At the most extreme, some can raise themselves to godlike or messiah status. On the other hand, in many eastern and indigenous communities, leaders have historically embodied qualities such as humility, curiosity and compassion. As the Daoist philosopher, Lao Tzu, so eloquently wrote:

“With the greatest leader above them, people barely know one exists.
Next comes one whom they love and praise.
Next comes one whom they fear.
Next comes one whom they despise and defy.
When a leader trusts no one, no one trusts him.
The great leader speaks little.
He never speaks carelessly.
He works without self-interest and leaves no trace.
When all is finished, the people say, ‘We did it ourselves’.”

• Lao Tzu, Dao De Ching, Verse 17