Honor, A Cornerstone of Leadership

Written in the sixth century, verse seventeen of the Tao Teh Ching from Lao Tzu reads:

A leader is best

When people barely know he exists,

Not so good when people obey and acclaim him,

Worst when they despise him.

'Fail to honor people,

They fail to honor you.'

But of a good leader, who talks tilde,

When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,

They will all say, 'We did this ourselves.'

I don't know about you, but as a leader and follower I find this passage intriguing and challenging.

As I watch other leaders (and in most cases, managers) I notice how common it is for so many leaders to want to be in the lime light. I'm sure you've seen it too. Perhaps you have worked alongside someone who will only allow their own ideas to be implemented, will take someone else's idea and claim it as their own, or simply wait until you are gone and then implement it. Behaviors like this make me wonder; if the idea was good enough to selfishly steal and implement later, why not just go ahead and humbly use it now? Why wait? I sense a similar caution to Lao Tzu—it is the dishonorable leader that selfishly claims another’s idea as his own.

On the flip side, I have also had the opportunity to observe honorable leaders who chose not to be concerned with their visibility while still being a true point person. The leader that honors his team is the one who is trusted most completely. The honorable leader may not have a formal title. However, the honorable leader is the one which has been tested over time, through giving his team the honor they deserve, who can rally the team to greater success.

If you watch a team, you will recognize the real leader by taking a moment or two to be still and simply observe. Don't be surprised. Here are some things to look for:

- Who takes time to listen to all the input?

- Who makes a calculated response?

- Which person actually commands the attention of the team when they speak?

* Who does everyone follow?

These questions will drive your attention to the real leader. Just because someone has a title does not mean they are the leader. In the same way, just because people follow instructions does not mean they are following a leader--they may simply be following a manager's instructions.

How do you honor your team? How do you enable them to rally together? Are you riding the limelight or stabilizing yourself on the cornerstone of honor?