The Art of Management in the Doctrine of the Mean

Author: He Zheming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: "Everything is established through prior planning; without planning, there is failure. If one determines words beforehand, one will not stumble; if one determines matters beforehand, one will not be trapped; if one determines actions beforehand, one will not be in confusion; if one determines the path beforehand, one will not reach a dead end." — The Doctrine of the Mean
The Doctrine of the Mean is about using the middle way. In decision-making, one should not extremes; one should not make decisive actions solely for temporary victory or gain, but rather strive to position oneself in an invincible position. The well-known story of Sun Bin helping Tian Ji in the Warring States period reflects this wisdom. Sun Bin did not hope to win all three rounds but ensured victory in two to secure the overall win. In the history of Chinese strategy, the widely prevalent three strategies—high, medium, and low—or known as the three plans of high, medium, and low, clearly reveal the characteristic of the Doctrine of the Mean: "establish an invincible position first, then act to control the situation."
Romance of the Three Kingdoms describes Liu Bei "burning the letter in anger," causing Liu Zhang's envoy to flee back to Chengdu. To avoid "losing everything," Pang Tong proposed three plans. Liu Bei asked, "What are the three plans?" Pang Tong replied, "Select elite troops immediately and attack Chengdu day and night—this is the high plan. Yang Huai and Gao Pei are famous generals of Shu, each commanding strong forces to defend the passes. Now, if the lord feigns a return to Jingzhou, these two generals will surely come to escort him. Seize and kill them at the send-off, take the passes, first capture Fu City, then advance toward Chengdu—this is the medium plan. Retreat to Baidi, return to Jingzhou at night, and plan for future advances—this is the low plan. If one hesitates and does not leave, one will face great difficulties and will be beyond rescue." Liu Bei thought for a moment and said, "The high plan is too rushed, and the low plan is too slow. The medium plan is neither too slow nor too rushed; it can be carried out."
Proposing plans is a form of preparation for decision-making. If one plans in advance, one will not stumble; if one decides in advance, one will not be trapped; if one arranges in advance, one will not be disoriented; if one sets a goal in advance, one will not reach a dead end. A famous entrepreneur once said, "No matter who I negotiate with, regarding this matter, at this time and place, how I should phrase my words, and how they might respond, and how I should respond to them—countless questions—before I have considered them thoroughly, I am willing to linger outside their door for hours, even go home and think for days, until I am certain, only then do I meet and negotiate with them."
Any successful person does not succeed at the moment of success but succeeds long before that moment, through many hours and events. Confucianism believes that those who exist internally are for the storage of knowledge and morality; those who exist externally are for the preparation of plans and strength. To govern a nation and the world, one must take these as fundamental principles. The Book of Songs·You Feng·Cui E says, "Before the rain falls, repair the mulberry houses and windows. Do not offend the common people now." When Confucius commented on this poem, he said, "The person who wrote this knows? Who would dare to offend them if they could govern this country? A person must offend themselves before others offend them. A country must have internal conflicts before it is attacked by foreign powers. With preparation, one is not afraid of calamity."
Yueluzi also said in his Twelve Tombs, "Power lies in stability, advantage lies in timing, opportunity lies in handling matters, battles lie in boosting morale, and there is no difficulty when one is prepared."
Decision-making