Leadership insights of the Chinese military classics: for physician leaders and healthcare administrators

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Authors: Robert W Enzenauer

Published Date April 2010 Volume 2010:2 Pages 1 - 9

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/JHL.S7866

Robert W Enzenauer

Dept of Ophthalmology, UC Health Science Center, Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute Aurora, Co, USA

Abstract: Leadership requires an understanding of human nature. Many popular books have been written describing the leadership principles of Biblical figures, athletes, military commanders, and even fictional heroes. Many of the contemporary authors who describe the traits, attributes, and actions that typify successful leaders can find that virtually all of the current leadership philosophy was recognized thousands of years ago. Trite sayings from Chinese military classics often find their way into after-dinner fortune cookies in many American Chinese restaurants. However, the lessons from the Chinese military classics should not be under-estimated and certainly should not be trivialized. Leaders at all levels of healthcare management can learn timeless lessons, spanning three millennia, from the wisdom of ancient Chinese military writings.

Keywords: leadership, philosophy

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