ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we explore the Tao Te Ching as a possible resource for contemporary leaders. We overlaid elements of the ancient text with insights form nine interviews we conducted with Chinese business leaders working in a foreign environment: New Zealand. We found some basic understanding of Taoist tenets in the ways these leaders acted toward their local counterparts, though none had a working knowledge of the text itself. Identifying as “Chinese,” therefore, did not equate to a deep understanding of the dao. Rather, we found that attention to quality, adapting to the environment, effective communication, working with the metaphor of water and choosing appropriate business partners were consistent with the dao at an intuitive level.
