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The Danger in Cleverness

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"Those skilful in the ancient Tao are not obvious to people. They appear to be simple-minded."

"People are difficult to lead because they are too clever. Therefore to lead the organisation with cleverness will bring harm to the organisation. Conversely, to lead without cleverness brings benefit to the organisation."

"Those who know these two things have investigated the patterns of the Absolute. To know and investigate the patterns is called the Subtle Power. The Subtle Power is profound and pervasive. Together with the natural law of polarity it leads to the Great Harmony."

Leaders who impose elaborate strategies cause social reactions that undermine the structure of the organisation because clever strategies strike a resonant chord in people and trigger their own cunning responses.

An enlightened leader guides the organisation with simplicity and directness and in this way the inherent cleverness of the people is neutralised.

Simple and direct leadership is highly effectiv e when it is intelligently aligned with the general trends in the environment and society. Enlightened leaders therefore constantly examine both the current patterns of society and the constant laws of Nature. (65)

Enlightened leaders emulate Nature’s patterns when controlling people’s activities. They manage by simple, direct acts that don’t cause speculation nor contain obvious ruses. People are in no doubt as to what is happening. They do not think, “Well it would seem this is happening, but maybe it is that not this that is happening.”

By being enlightened, a leader is being an extension of Nature, an agent of Nature, is working in harmony with Nature - how can he/she go wrong?

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