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A doctor asked Master Cheng Yen, “What constitutes successful leadership?”
The Master answered:
There is always a distance between our dream and reality. In order to realise our dream, we need to be patient and we must be wary not to be too headstrong and self-opinionated. It is essential for one who is serious about getting something done to learn how to conduct oneself and interact with others. The key lies in having the concept of “learning from others”. In many situations, our thoughts may not be absolutely correct. Hence, we should listen to the views of others and correct our views by adopting better perspectives.
A true leader will not impose restrictions on others and intimidate them till they become too afraid to work or to speak out. When leading people, it is crucial to guide them with sincerity so that they will be willing to cooperate of their own accord.
Master Cheng Yen also quoted the example of the former superintendent of the Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital and his wife, to highlight that if one wishes to be a good leader, one must first care about others. The couple would often prepare herbal drinks for the hospital staff to show their care and appreciation.
If we can always think of others and care for people with love and warmth, they will definitely feel touched and grateful, and be driven and willing to work hard, thereby unleashing the power of a team. This is the result of successful leadership.
If a leader is egoistic, arrogant, and unwilling to accept the opinions of others, and is autocratic in his/her ways, then it is only natural that his/her staff will not carry out their work willingly and happily. Therefore, a leader must learn to communicate with others, care for others’ needs, and be grateful for their efforts. Only then will people happily accept his/her leadership.
Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
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