The Yang of Leadership in Action - 傳 達 den and tatsu

 

 

 

The Yang of Leadership in Action

 

 

陽

 

yang

 

 

literally, "the masculine principle"

 

 

 

9. Communication

 

 

 

傳 達

 

 

den and tatsu

 

 

 

den, literally, "to report," "to impart," and "to transmit";

with tatsu, literally, "to arrive," "to reach," and "to attain," respectively.

To communicate clearly is to arrive at a deeper understanding.

 

 

 

The highest people teach the lowest

And learn from them as well.

 

Those without appreciation

For the teacher or the lesson

Have strayed from the path.

They may be highly educated,

But lack the deepest wisdom.

 

(Tao, 27)

 

 

 

The Tao Te Ching encourages us to watch and listen for life's patterns,

not only in nature but in the world of human interactions.

 

The Tao challenges us to balance individualism with community,

developing our own abilities to the fullest while looking to the larger patterns.

 

 

 

Selecting the Right Mode of Communication

 

 

Face-to-face Communication: Active Listening

 

 

The Tao tells us:

 

The spirit of the valley is eternal.

It is yin, mother of all life.

Its portal is the source of all creation,

Subtle and yielding

Yet infinite, strong.

Blend with its power

And succeed without effort.

 

(Tao, 6)

 

 

The ability to listen carefully,

to yield our attention to another,

enables us to seek the truth in any interaction.

 

 

Developing Insight: T'zu Jan

 

 

The Chinese character t'zu jan means

a spontaneous insight into the nature of things.

It cannot be acquired by intellect alone or even hard work.

It must be found by opening our hearts.

 

The character t'zu means compassion or empathy,

one of the three treasures of the Tao and a vital aspect of listening.

As we open our hearts and carefully listen to the other person,

we transcend our limited egos,

which keep us from recognizing hte subtle energies between us.

 

Awareness is power.

 

 

Communicating with Clarity and Integrity

 

 

Listening is the yin and speaking is the yang of effective communication.

We must do both to get our message across.

 

 

Communicating with Integrity

 

 

Those who admit that they don't know

Become wise.

Those who conceal their ignorance

Never learn.

Those who admit mistakes

Develop strength of character.

Those who pretend to be strong

Become weak.

 

(Tao, 71)

 

 

Keeping Lines of Communication Open

 

 

The form of the formless,

The image without image,

Beyond all definition.

Meeting it, there is no beginning.

Following it, there is no end.

 

(Tao, 14)

 

 

Communicating for Quality: Leadership Teams

 

 

Hold to this timeless pattern

Throughout the time of your life,

Aware of the eternal cycles,

The essence of Tao.

 

(Tao, 14)

 

 

Leadership Evaluations

 

 

Those who do not trust others

Will never be trusted.

 

(Tao, 23)

 

 

Nature's way is alteration.

Some things move forward

While others fall back.

Now we reach out

And then we reach in.

Today we're weak,

tomorrow strong.

Therefore, the Tao leader

Avoids excess,

Avoids extremes,

Avoids pride.

 

(Tao, 29)

 

 

Communicating Bad News

 

 

Be clear. Tell the truth.

Be concise, Don't ramble or make excuses.

Be Compassionate. Cite some alternatives.

 

 

Honest, as an uncarved block of wood;

Open, as a yielding valley;

Blending, as if earth and water.

 

(Tao, 15)

 

 

Communicating Good News

 

 

Success can grow from failure,

Misery from happiness.

Who knows what lies

Beneath the surface?

Complaint and conflict

Can turn to good,

Morale can shift

From high to low.

People have long been confused

About causation.

The Tao leader is

Just, but not judgemental;

Honest, but not hurtful;

Straightforward, but not inflexible;

Bright, but not flamboyant.

 

(Tao, 58)

 

 

With a belief in new possibilities and effective communication skills,

we shape our collective future.

This is the way of Tao.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Dreher, Diane. The Tao of Personal Leadership. Harper Collins Publishers. New York. 1997.