Tao Te Ching and Wuwei Management

Chapter 2 1 Feasibility Test of "Governance by Doing Nothing": Practice in the Early Han Dynasty

The first volume of Tiandao volume "do nothing but do nothing", Tao Te Ching and Enterprise Management
"Tao Te Ching" is a representative work of the Taoist school in the pre-Qin period, which had a great influence on the formation and development of Chinese traditional culture.In this book, Laozi put forward the idea of ​​"governing the country by doing nothing".After more than 2000 years, people in the modern business management circle have discovered that the valuable ideas in it can be used as a reference for business management.The core of inaction management is "doing nothing without doing nothing". It looks like doing nothing, but in fact it is doing it with more sophisticated means.

Respect the laws and follow the way of heaven, and the strategic goals will come naturally.

Do nothing and do nothing. —— "Tao Te Ching" Chapter 48
"Working at sunrise, resting at sunset, digging wells to drink, plowing fields to eat, what is the power of the emperor to me!" ——This "Song of Hitting the Land" recorded and preserved in the "Book of Songs" has been written since ancient times It began to spread in the mouth of the ancestors.This tranquility and leisure has always been the realm of life that Chinese people yearn for.

At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, Lao Tzu first put forward the management idea of ​​"governance by doing nothing" in "Tao Te Ching": "I do nothing and the people transform themselves; I am quiet and the people are righteous; I do nothing and the people are rich; The people are self-sufficient", "If you do nothing, everything will be cured."With the revival of Chinese studies, people have rediscovered the preciousness of Lao Tzu's "inaction thought".Known as "a treasure of Chinese management philosophy", it is the continuation of the application of Taoist dialectics in management and management practice, and occupies an important position in the 5000-year history of Chinese civilization.

However, business people who are deeply influenced by Western management thinking will inevitably have doubts in their hearts: how to lead a huge and complex enterprise without systems and regulations?To be an enterprise is to make a difference. If you do nothing, why do you still do business? "Management by inaction" is just a cover for verbal talk. Wouldn't it be a mess if it is really used?

Regarding these questions, we will not argue too much. The so-called "facts speak louder than words."In history, some people have practiced Lao Tzu's "inaction management" thought. The most famous one is the "Huang Lao Politics" in the early Han Dynasty (the "old" refers to Lao Tzu).A glimpse of the leopard in the tube, the whole body can be seen in one spot, here is a clip of it:
After the death of Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty came to the throne. Cao Shen, one of the founding fathers of the Han Dynasty who assisted the prime minister of the government at that time.Emperor Hui gradually discovered that Prime Minister Cao invited people to drink and chat all day long, as if he didn't care about governing the country for him at all.Emperor Hui was very puzzled, but he couldn't think of a reason. He just thought that Cao Xiangguo thought he was too young and looked down on him, so he didn't want to do his best to help him.Huidi thought about it left and right, always feeling uncertain and a little anxious.

One day, Emperor Hui said to Cao Yu (the son of Cao Can) who was a doctor in the imperial court: "When you come home from vacation, try to ask your father when you have the opportunity, and you say: 'Gaozu just died not long ago. , the current emperor is young and has no experience in governing the government. He is asking the prime minister to assist him in handling state affairs. But now, as the prime minister, you drink and chat with people all day long, and you never ask the emperor for instructions on government affairs; Second, just ask about the important affairs of the court. If this goes on like this for a long time, how can you govern the country well and appease the people?' After you ask, see how your father answers, and tell me when you come back. But don't say it's me Let you ask him." Cao Yu accepted the emperor's order, went home on vacation, found a chance, while serving his father, chatted with his father according to Han Huidi's order, and persuaded Cao Shen.After Cao Shen heard what his son said, he lost his temper and scolded Cao Yao, saying: "What do you know about government affairs, you kid? Are you the one who should say these things? Or should you take care of them? Why don't you go back to the palace as soon as possible?" Serve the emperor." While cursing, he picked up the board and beat his son severely.

After Cao Yu was beaten and scolded by his father, he returned to the palace dejectedly, and complained to Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty.After hearing this, Emperor Hui felt even more baffled. He didn't know why Cao Shen was so angry.

The next day when the court came down, Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty left Cao Shen behind and scolded him, saying: "Why did you beat Cao Yu? What he said is what I mean, and I asked him to persuade you." Cao Shen listened After hearing Emperor Hui's words, he immediately took off his hat, knelt down on the ground and kowtowed to apologize.After Han Huidi woke him up, he said: "What do you think, please tell it straight!" Cao Shen thought for a while and boldly answered Huidi: "Please think about it, your majesty, who is compared with the first emperor?" Is it more wise and heroic?" Emperor Hui immediately said: "How dare I compare myself with the late emperor?" Cao Shen asked again: "Your Majesty, compared with Xiao He Xiangguo, who is stronger in my virtue?" Emperor Hui of Han smiled and said: "I think you are not as good as Xiao Xiangguo."

Cao Shen took Emperor Hui's words and said: "Your Majesty is very correct. Since your virtuous ability is not as good as that of the late emperor, and my virtue and ability are not as good as Xiao Xiangguo's, then after the unification of the world, the late emperor and Xiao Xiangguo have successively formulated many clear and comprehensive policies. Complete laws and regulations are effective in execution, can we formulate laws and regulations that surpass them?" Then he sincerely said to Emperor Hui: "Now your Majesty is inheriting and maintaining the business, not starting a business. Therefore, those of us who are ministers should abide by the will of the late emperor, act cautiously, and abide by our duties. We should not make random changes to the laws and regulations that have been formulated and implemented, but only follow them. I am doing this now Isn’t it a good job?” After hearing Cao Shen’s explanation, Emperor Hui of Han said, “I understand, you don’t need to say any more!”

Cao Shen served as prime minister in the court for three years. He strongly advocated quietness, doing nothing and not disturbing the people, and governed the country in accordance with the laws and regulations formulated by Xiao He, which made the Western Han Dynasty politically stable, economically developed, and people's lives improved day by day.After his death, the people made up a ballad to praise him, saying: "Xiao He made the law clearly and neatly; after Cao Shen took over, he obeyed it and did not deviate from it. The government is noble and quiet, and the people are happy."

This is the story of the famous "Xiao Gui Cao Sui" in history.This story tells us what "management by doing nothing" really means.Doing nothing is not letting go, but not acting recklessly, recklessly, or chaotically, conforming to the objective situation, respecting objective laws, doing something and not doing something.

As Professor Joseph Needham, a famous British scientist, said: "'Wu Wei' in the original Taoist thought of primitive science refers to 'avoiding actions against nature', that is, avoiding going against the nature of things, and doing things that are inappropriate without force. Things that are bound to fail should not be done reluctantly, but should be euphemistically guided or made according to the situation." As a high-level leadership wisdom, "inaction" management can improve the management status of the organization and improve the management level of the organization. Doing nothing management to achieve the strategic goal of doing nothing, also has important reference value and practical significance.

(End of this chapter)