First organize the inner, then organize the outer ... First organize the great, then organize the small. First organize yourself, and then organize others.
Interpretation
Prioritizing internal orderliness is essential before addressing external tasks. Self-organization lays the groundwork for effectively organizing others.
This quote by Zhuge Liang emphasizes the importance of internal organization before tackling external challenges. It suggests that true leadership and effectiveness stem from a well-structured personal foundation; only after achieving self-organization can one successfully organize others and broader tasks. By addressing both the significant and the minor elements systematically, one can create a cohesive and efficient environment.
In practice
During a leadership seminar, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of personal development in becoming an effective leader.
Opportunistic relationships can hardly be kept constant. The acquaintance of honorable people, even at a distance, does not add flowers in times of warmth and does not change its leaves in times of cold: it continues unfading through the four seasons, becomes increasingly stable as it passes through ease and danger.
To overcome the intelligent by folly is contrary to the natural order of things; to overcome the foolish by intelligence is in accord with the natural order. To overcome the intelligent by intelligence, however, is a matter of opportunity.
Strength is but one aspect of power.
Good generals select intelligent officers, thoughtful advisors, and brave subordinates. They oversee their troops like a fierce tiger with wings.
Battles are not won by strength alone!
Nothing is harder to see into thanpeoples nature. The sage looks at subtle phenomena and listens tosmall voices. This harmonizes the outside with the inside and the inside with the outside.
What to an outsider will be no more than the vigorous presentation of a conviction, to an employee may be the manifestation of a determination which it is not safe to thwart.
Well I do think, when there are more women, that the tone of the conversation changes, and also the goals of the conversation change. But it doesn't mean that the whole world would be a lot better if it were totally run by women. If you think that, you've forgotten high school.
Popularity isn't my compass. Unless it can help one to act, to be understood... that's what counts.
In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.
A lot of people ask what it takes to move from being a creative to a leader: Take everyone's career personally. People will work hard for you if you work hard for them. Any idiot can be a boss; all you need is a title. But to be a leader, you need to earn respect and have an opinion you stand by.
Within the U.N. itself, I have appointed a record number of women to high-level positions. I did not fill jobs with women just for the sake of it - I looked for the best possible candidate, and I found that if you strip away discrimination, the best possible candidate is often a woman.
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