Those in management positions, especially those who have risen through the ranks,
Do you sometimes doubt your own abilities?
There's no need to be overly anxious.
The nineteenth hexagram of the I Ching – # Lin (临卦)
It is about the principles of management.
The meaning of “临” is not limited to leading others.
It also means getting closer, observing, and taking responsibility.
It is not difficult to discover through the six lines of the hexagram.
Management is a process of growth.
Phase 1: Building Trust
Day 9: All things approach; perseverance brings good fortune.
When you first enter a management role, the most important thing is not the system, but to build connections.
Get close to the team and understand the real situation.
Listen instead of judging, and build trust through understanding.
Phase Two: Unity of Mind and Action
Nine Two: All things approach, auspicious, nothing is unfavorable.
Management is not a one-way command, but a process of mutual response.
The biggest advantage of managers promoted from the grassroots level is not power, but understanding.
Instead of suppression, they lead by example.
When people are in harmony, things will naturally go smoothly.
Phase Three: Upholding the Principles
Line 63: Approaching with sweetness, nothing will be gained. Having already expressed concern, there will be no blame.
The character "甘" (gān) carries the meaning of sweetness. In this context, it means that if a manager prioritizes pleasing and cooperating others, and deliberately relaxes standards to maintain the atmosphere, superficial harmony may be achieved in the short term.
However, if this continues for a long time, principles and boundaries will gradually become blurred.
Not only will the organization lose its direction, but its management will also become unconvincing.
Phase Four: Doing it Hands-on
64: Approaching, without blame.
Good managers don't just look at reports and KPIs.
They are even more willing to go to the scene and see the truth.
When managers are willing to personally participate and proactively understand...
Many unnecessary problems can often be prevented before they occur.
Phase 5: Knowing People and Appointing Them Well
Line 65: Knowing the approach, it is appropriate for a great ruler; auspicious.
As managers accumulate experience, they gradually mature.
No longer need to do everything personally.
Entering the sixth stage, we arrive at "knowing and approaching"—
Lead the team with wisdom, not with labor.
The key lies in knowing how to recognize and appoint talent, understanding when to intervene and when to delegate authority.
Let the team operate naturally while maintaining high efficiency and stability.
Phase Six: Steadfast and Reliable
The sixth line at the top: Sincere approach, auspicious, without blame.
"Dunlin" means to handle matters with composure and sincerity, and can also be understood as "to face the situation with caution".
The sixth line at the top is in the final stage of the hexagram, symbolizing the highest position or the pinnacle of power, while also carrying significant responsibilities.
Managers at this stage need to demonstrate integrity and reliability – a calm, dependable attitude that leads by example and inspires respect throughout the team, making them the core pillar and key force of the team.
Management skills are not innate.
Rather, it is the result of gradual accumulation and cultivation.
Each step in the process lays the foundation for higher-level management capabilities in the future.
Each step, each layer, cultivates mature and stable leadership.
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