In the history of human progress, the most fruitful developments take
place at the intersection of different lines of thoughts. The timeless
topic of leadership has for centuries always been dominated by the ideas
and philosophies of Western thinkers, business executives and academics.
For far too long, the voice from the East has been deafeningly silent.
As Asia rises in the global economy, a question that begs an answer is,
"What is the leadership tradition of the East and how will it play out
globally?" Leadership consultant BH Tan has written an outstanding
exposition of the Asian perspective on leadership. He has drawn upon his
deep appreciation of Daoist principles to propose a complementary
approach to the Western-centric leadership mindset. A lifelong student
of Eastern and Western thinking and leadership, he challenges some of
our most cherished truths and perspectives. "Either-or" is out. The
"both-and" philosophy will lead us to a better future in this complex,
chaotic yet interconnected world. This is the essence of leadership
paradoxes. When we integrate both streams of thinking, we transcend
contradictions and tap into greater possibilities for progress and
creativity. This can only help us lead more wisely and courageously.
Each of the 25 chapters is fabulously written, easy to read, with plenty
of real-life cases drawn from the author's many decades of experience
working alongside leaders around the world. This is the author's third
book on leadership.
