Lead like Water

Lead Like Water

Think of water for a second. What is your first impression when you come across this term?

>>> Weak? Common? Boring?

Now think about Leadership?

>>> Strong? Extraordinary? Outstanding?

When we put these 2 seemingly contradictory terms together, we get what we typically refer to as oxymoron in English.

Yet, three historical wise men from East to West both suggested leaders to lead like water.

3 Very Wise Leaders

Laozi

LaoziThe Tao Te Ching is fundamental to the Philosophical Taoism. Laozi, one of the wisest men in Chinese history who lived in 6th century BCE, emphasised the “tao” or “the way.” As such, tenets about leadership and social behavior are said to simply follow the operation of the natural system.

In Tao Te Ching, Laozi often used metaphors to illustrate his abstract concepts. He used the metaphor “water” to describe the leadership style of a sage as water processes many key attributes of leadership.

The essential leadership approach based on Taoistic leadership can be described as “Wateristic.” Chen and Lee (2007) who wrote an excellent book called Leadership and Management in China: Philosophies, Theories, and Practices.

They summarised the wateristic leadership in five key features:

1.     Water is altruistic to others

2.     Water is modest and humble

3.     Water is adaptive and flexible

4.     Water is transparent and clear

5.     Water is gentle, yet persistent

Mike Rice’s example of leadership at Rutgers University in yesterday’s L2L post was a most certainly poor one.

L2L Reader Survey 2013

King Solomon

King SolomonOne of the wisest men in history of Middle East is King Solomon as recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible. He wrote a few wisdom books like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes about three thousands years ago (four hundred years before Laozi).

In Proverbs, he wrote a lot about the key mindset and behaviour of wise kings that equally applies to leaders.

He wrote this:

“Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.” (Proverbs 21:1, Message)

King Solomon was referring to good leaders are willing to channel to the right resource to their followers when they need. Good leaders are committed to do whatever it takes for the success of their followers and the whole organization.

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ

Fast forward about 1000 years in the New Testament of the Bible. Jesus Christ demonstrated what it means by leadership by demonstrating one of the most surprising act to his followers using water. In the gospel of John,

…..he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron….

Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve

done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. (John 13:4-7, 12-17, Message)

So what can we apply these ancient wisdoms into real life in 21C?

My experience tells me that these days when dealing with the Millennial Generation (or the Post 1980 Gen in China), “wateristic leadership” may especially work well with them. According to many researches, the next generation prefers managers with less power distance, and they would like to have managers that assume the role of friends and coaches rather than someone who just give them orders.

Managers as servant leaders demonstrated by Jesus are willing to “wash their feet” are definitely welcomed by the next-gen as they see gentle and modest leaders.

Moreover, as the Facebook generation are accustomed to receive frequent, just-in-time feedback, the wateristic leaders who provide nourishment and channel the resources available to help their success when they need help are key to gain their trust and loyalty.

In the postmodern era, people, especially the young ones, prefer authenticity and transparency in their trusting leaders. Leaders who “lead like water” with the focus of transparency are definitely more welcomed than those pretentious leaders.

Is it merely a coincidence that three of the wisest men in the history of mankind all pointed to water when they talked about leadership? Next time when you take a sip of water or wash your hands, pause for a second, and think if you are leading like water.

And when you feel frustrated by the next generation, perhaps you can try practicing what suggested by Laozi, Solomon, and Jesus.

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——————————-
Andrew Ma
Andrew Ma
 is Executive Director of Chorev Consulting

He specialize in Leadership Development, Assessments, Cross Cultural Training 
Email | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Web | Skype: andrewma99

Image Sources: eng360summer2010.wikispaces.com, biografieonline.it, jesusdosanddonts.com

L2L Contributing Author

7 Comments

  1. Dave Mohn on May 9, 2013 at 5:48 pm

    I find this leader supposition to become more and more present in the work place. Not only from Generation X but the multinational workplace demands more communication.



  2. Rich Bishop on May 10, 2013 at 4:45 am

    Andrew – You make a great analogy. One thing I would like to add is that water can be a very powerful substance when it needs to be. If there is enough negative energy behind it, it can be very destructive (floods, tsunamis, etc.). Yet, when its power is harnessed properly, it can create enough energy to generate electricity.

    Thanks for sharing the great post!



    • Chad Sanders on May 10, 2013 at 7:19 am

      Great point Rich…



  3. Andrew Ma on May 11, 2013 at 3:07 am

    My TEDx talk on this relate topic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt5k1oAbREk



  4. Andrew Ma on May 11, 2013 at 3:12 am

    Thanks to Chase Leblanc, of course another legend that talks about wateristic leadership is the Bruce almighty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGFf3SRP1bE



  5. Andrew Ma on May 11, 2013 at 3:22 am

    and my TEDx talk on servant leadership for those interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt5k1oAbREk



  6. Lincoln Daily Management on May 25, 2013 at 3:53 pm

    Water cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence.

    The metaphors could go on and on, couldn’t they? Love them all!



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