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Abstract

This article introduces the Taoist perspective on leadership to teachers and trainers who want to include nonwestern leadership concepts in their courses and workshops. Taoists advocate a limited role for leaders, encouraging them to lead by example instead of through government, laws, morality or force. In addition, they urge leaders to model their behavior on principles found in nature. Natural images or metaphors suggest that leaders should be simple and humble, exhibit childlike integrity, let events take their own course, exercise strength through weakness, and remain flexible. Information on Taoism and leadership is readily available but instructors must determine how much emphasis to give to the perspective's philosophical origins and how best to present Taoist principles in the classroom. Asking students to draw their own conclusions from statements and examples found in the Tao Te Ching (Taoism's primary text) is one way to teach leadership from a Taoist point of view.

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A Leadership Journey to the East

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