Leadership Lessons from Confucius: the exercise of power

Confucius said: “Power acquired through wisdom that cannot be maintained through goodness will inevitably be lost. Power acquired through wisdom and maintained through goodness will not be respected by the people if it is not exerted with dignity. Power acquired through wisdom, maintained through goodness, and exerted with dignity is still not perfect if it is not implemented in accordance with ritual.”
子曰：「知及之，仁不能守之，雖得之，必失之。知及之，仁能守之，不莊以 之，則民不敬。知及之，仁能守之，莊以 之，動之不以禮，未善也。」

Getting the major promotion that you have long dreamed of is the starting point — not the destination. You won’t have the chance to enjoy it for long if you don’t hit the ground running with a clear plan of action and show your team that you won’t allow your newfound power go to your head.

That means setting the right example by living up to the highest ethical and performance standards, treating people with respect, and creating a culture that allows everyone to flourish. It is only by engaging everyone’s support that you will be able to achieve lasting success in your new position.

Notes
This article features a translation of Chapter 33 of Book 15 of the Analects of Confucius. You can read my full translation of Book 15 here.

(1) There is extensive debate over the meaning if “it” (之/zhī) in this passage. I have translated it as “power” because it seems to make the most sense in the overall context. Others render it as “official position” or “the way.” All of them coalesce, however, around the familiar Confucian theme of virtuous leadership: once you have attained authority, the only way to maintain it over the long term is to gain the support of the people by exercising it though “goodness” and “dignity”. Respecting ritual, the customs and practices that bind society together, is also a critical element of the process.

I took this image at the Mencius Cemetery in Qufu.