Lao Tzu's Great Leader
A true leader empowers their team to take collective ownership of success, finding deeper satisfaction in the team's achievement than in personal recognition.
THE IDEA
The great leader is he of whom the people say, “We did it ourselves.”
This type of leadership is not without its rewards. Those who practice it find deep satisfaction in being part of an organization capable of producing results that people truly care about. In fact, they find these rewards more enduring than the power and praise granted to more traditional leaders.
When to use it
Improving team morale after a difficult project by highlighting collective ownership.
Fostering innovation in a creative team by reducing reliance on top-down direction.
Leading a cross-functional team where diverse skills need to be integrated smoothly.
Building a culture of autonomy and trust in a startup environment.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Product Launch Success
A CEO credits the entire team for a successful product launch, saying, 'We did it ourselves,' and ensures each member feels ownership of the outcome.
Creative Project Completion
A project manager allows the team to make key decisions and publicly attributes the project's success to their collective effort.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How can you shift credit to your team in a way that feels genuine and empowering?
What does it mean to be a leader who is not visibly leading?
When have you experienced a leader who made you feel 'we did it ourselves'? How did that affect your motivation?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- The Fifth Discipline The Art Practice of the Learning Organization (Peter M. Senge)