Leaders may want to familiarize themselves with the 17th verse of Lao-tzu’s Tao Te Ching.
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.”
For a brief explanation, I enjoy this quote below from Dr. Wayne Dyer’s book Change Your Thoughts- Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao on pages 77 to 78.
“The Tao advises making yourself as invisible as possible if you truly wish to be an effective leader. Thus, perhaps your best strategy would be to actually leave the room and allow everyone else to act without feeling the need to impress you. Maybe you should offer a slight suggestion and then an immediate departure. A knowing smile or gesture that conveys to the group that you trust in its ability to figure things out might work best. Possibly what’s needed is for you to tell a quick story of how others have resolved similar issues. Or you could simply meditate and send positive conflict resolving energy to all the individuals present.”