Leading by Following — Tao Te Ching

Lao Tzu opens with adaptive leadership. The sage has no invariable mind of his own; he makes the mind of the people his mind. Real influence begins by understanding what others need, not by imposing a fixed agenda.

Then he names the sage's consistent response. To those who are good to me, I am good; and to those who are not good to me, I am also good, and thus all get to be good. To those who are sincere with me, I am sincere; and to those who are not sincere with me, I am also sincere, and thus all get to be sincere. Goodness and sincerity are not rewards for good behavior; they are the environment that shapes it.

He closes with how this looks from outside. The sage has in the world an appearance of indecision, and keeps his mind in a state of indifference to all. The people all keep their eyes and ears directed to him, and he deals with them all as his children. Flexibility reads as weakness until the room stabilizes around steady care.