A Buddhist Leadership Theory?

Several people have commented on leadership especially in the responses to the item on Developing Structures at Amida. It is an obviously important topic so I am promoting it to a main post here. Is there such a thing as a Buddhist theory of leadership? I rather think that a large part of what Buddhist training actually consists of is

a form of leadership training. My sense is that Buddha did not so much set out to create a mass movement as to train a cadre of people capable of acting as leaders - a leaven in society. The word sangha originally meant something like council or parliament - a group of leaders. A good leader needs to overcome self, at least in some degree, because he or she must act "for the good of the many" not just for personal advantage. Such people need to be adaptable. The leader is the holder of the vision, but that does not necessarily mean creator of the vision. Vision is something discerned rather than made. It emerges. It is somebody's job to discern what is emerging and point it out. It is then a collective task to give it form in a way that is fertile for further emergence. Another function of the leader is to spot and cultivate leadership talent. Leadership does not just go on at the "top" or in the centre of an organisation. There are many centres. There is, however, also a need for co-ordination. All this makes personal demands. Being the leader in a new small organisation is not the same as being leader of an older more complex one. I am already experiencing transitions in my role in this respect. Time was when nothing happened around here unless I was centrally involved in it. Not any more. As things get more complex there is more reliance on checks and balances, but the exercise of personal initiative at all levels remains a crucial factor in organisational health. Buddhist training teaches people how to do this. It also taches us tolerance - a hard lesson sometimes. Both these elements - taking responsibility and making allowance for diversity and the bits one cannot reasonably control - are forms of "tough love" - tough on oneself as much as on others. There are times when a leader's failure to say, "It shall be thus" creates chaos and confusion. On the other hand, a leader is ill advised to make any such pronouncement without having listened carefully and got a fine sense of the balance of forces in play. To a very large degree the organisation makes itself, but leadership is an essential catalyst.

Comments

[ray]

In the NHS, there is less talk of management, more of leadership. The following link leads to a series of guides that can be downloaded as pdf files, or, if you work in the NHS, can be ordered for free. Not "buddhist" but a useful resource.

http://www.content.modern.nhs.uk/cmsWISE/Tools+and+Techniques/ILG/ILG.htm

[Dharmavidya]

Thanks Ray

[mike samorn]

my name is Mike samorn. I want to post my comments that what is the budhha as the leader? i means what kind of leader of the buddha is? please help me and tell me about that. thanks for your kind.

[John O' Donovan]

provocative and useful, please continue.

[Vinod veer]

Sir,
I am student of buddhist studies. I want to establish / link Tripitaka literature, with modern management studies. will any one help me in this regard.
I want to relate Vinaypitaka, sutta pitaka and abbhidhamma pitaka with Corporate governance, Social governance and global sectorial objectives respectivly. Please extend your viws on the same.
Regards.

[Senadheera]

I am attached to a buddhist academic library and would like to have literature which the students could use for their studies for the degree course. Please be kind enough to send me same early.

Thanking You,

Sencerely,

[nelaeagennyg]

Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success
nelaeagennyg99811

[accounting homework help]

Perhaps these commentators speaking out against Buddhists will eventually die away, leaving behind just an old dusty trail of ignorant, disingenuous and malevolent words.

[balance sheet homework help]

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha.

[Send flowers to Korea]

Don't know what is wrong what is rite but i know that every one has there own point of view and same goes to this one

[Jerseys]

I am attached to a buddhist academic library and would like to have literature which the students could use for their studies for the degree course. Please be kind enough to send me same early.

[BM Dayawansa]

I'm in the process of registering myself for a research degree and interested in researching on leadership qualities of Load Buddha. please be kind enough to send me relevant sources.