Leader Sanming - Understand the Big Picture, Understand Power, Understand Relationships

Author: Shi Yuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: A different perspective reveals different levels of leadership. Some leaders tend to focus on minor details, getting lost in trivial matters and losing a clear understanding of the bigger picture. Wise leaders stand tall and see far, not being overly concerned with the of temporary or individual matters, always keeping the bigger picture in mind and always in control. This book presents the leadership methods and skills that leaders must master, which can be called the "Three Claritys": Clarity of the Bigger Picture, Clarity of Power, and Clarity of Relationships. Clarity of the Bigger Picture means leaders must focus on the bigger picture to grasp the situation. Clarity of Power means leaders should use power as a tool to connect with success. Clarity of Relationships means leaders must truly understand that relationships determine success or failure. This book explains the so-called "Three Claritys of Leadership" by combining historical wisdom with modern management theories and leadership techniques. It first vividly illustrates the issues through historical evidence, then further elaborates on them with management knowledge and leadership experience in the context of the new era, allowing readers to draw on history without being confined to it. Only with a clear mind and sharp eyes can leaders support a broader leadership scenario.
8. Achieve Security Without Forgetting Danger
In Yang Shen's Ming Dynasty work "The Art of Concealment," there is a famous saying: "The allure of honor and profit is great, but it is difficult to dwell in." It means that wealth, status, and high-ranking positions are highly tempting, but the world of honor and profit is also extremely difficult to stand firm in. The Book of Changes states: "When at peace, do not forget danger; when existing, do not forget extinction; when governing, do not forget chaos. Thus, one can remain safe and the state can be preserved." After becoming a leader with great power, one must remain vigilant even in times of peace, and the higher one's position, the more cautious one must be.
Guo Ziyi of the Tang Dynasty achieved great merit by suppressing the An Lushan Rebellion and was enfeoffed as Prince of Fenyang, serving as the prime minister. His mansion was built in the Qinnanli area of the capital Chang'an. Since its completion, the gates of the Fenyang Mansion were always open, allowing people to enter and exit freely, and Guo Ziyi forbade his household from interfering. One day, a general under Guo Ziyi was transferred to a post outside the capital and came to the mansion to bid farewell. Knowing that the mansion had no restrictions, he went all the way into the inner quarters. Coincidentally, he saw Guo Ziyi's wife and his beloved daughter getting ready to dress, with the prince serving them nearby. They asked him to pass towels and pour water, treating him like a servant. At the time, the general did not dare to mock Guo Ziyi but, upon returning home, could not help but tell his family about it. Word spread quickly, and soon, the entire capital was talking about the incident as a joke.
Guo Ziyi, however, was unfazed by the news. His sons, on the other hand, felt it deeply dishonored their father's status. They decided to advise their father to order the gates closed, like other mansions, to prevent unauthorized people from entering. Guo Ziyi laughed when he heard this, but his sons, kneeling and crying, implored him. One son said, "Father, your achievements are renowned and respected by all under heaven, yet you do not respect yourself. You allow anyone to enter the inner quarters at will. Even the wise minister Yi Yin of the Shang Dynasty and the trusted official Huo Guang of the Han Dynasty could not achieve what you have."
Hearing this, Guo Ziyi's smile faded, and he spoke earnestly to his sons: "I keep my gates open and allow people to enter freely not to seek fame or reputation, but to protect myself and our family. I do this to ensure our survival." His sons were greatly astonished and asked for the reasoning behind it. Guo Ziyi sighed and said, "You only see the glory of the Guo family but fail to see the danger lurking within. I was enfeoffed as Prince of Fenyang, and there is no greater wealth or status to pursue. The moon waxes only to be eclipsed, and the peak is bound to decline—this is inevitable. That is why people often say it is wise to retreat from the current rush. But the court still needs me, so how can they let me retire? Moreover, even if I were to retire, where could I find a place to accommodate over a thousand members of our family?"
In this situation, he is trapped—neither able to advance nor retreat. If we close our gates and cut off contact with the outside world, even one person who bears a grudge against our family and accuses us of disloyalty to the court would surely find someone to spread rumors and fabricate false accusations. At that point, our entire family would have no place to hide.
Throughout history, figures like Guo Ziyi