Leadership isn’t something you fully understand until you’ve experienced its challenges and rewards. My journey began as a web development intern, and I’ve since worked across roles — from software development to systems analysis, software quality assurance, business analysis, database administration, cloud administration, and now leading a small team of developers. Over these years, I’ve learned that leadership is less about control and more about empowering others. Lao Tzu’s timeless phrase “To lead people, walk behind them” captures this philosophy perfectly, but it wasn’t until I applied it alongside another approach I learned during my college days — The One Minute Manager — that my approach to leadership truly took shape.
The Misconception of Leadership
In my early leadership days, I believed leading meant being the one with all the answers, standing at the front, and steering the direction of the team. As a senior developer, I often became the go-to person for solving technical issues. I thought that being the leader meant taking charge in every situation.
However, that approach often led to dependency within the team. It was only when I remembered lessons from The One Minute Manager that things started to change. One of the core principles of the book is recognizing and praising good work immediately, which helps people take ownership and feel more confident in their abilities. I combined this with Lao Tzu’s idea of leading from behind, trusting the team to grow and make their own decisions while I observed and offered guidance.
Walking Behind: Empowering Through Trust and Praise
In my current role, leading a team means much more than being the technical expert. Applying what I learned from The One Minute Manager, I began focusing on small, impactful interactions — quickly identifying successful actions and acknowledging them on the spot. This simple act, paired with Lao Tzu’s wisdom of walking behind, created an environment where my team felt trusted, supported, and encouraged to take initiative.
Walking behind isn’t about being absent or passive — it’s about guiding while giving others room to succeed. Instead of solving every problem myself, I trusted the team to rise to the challenge. When they succeeded, I praised them, reinforcing their sense of accomplishment and ownership over their work. As a result, they became more engaged, proactive, and creative.
Humility: The Quiet Power of Walking Behind
Both Lao Tzu and The One Minute Manager emphasize the importance of humility in leadership. Early in my career, I wanted to be the problem-solver, the person people relied on for answers. But true leadership, as I’ve come to understand, isn’t about being in the spotlight. It’s about stepping back and letting others shine.
By walking behind, I embraced humility. I didn’t need to take credit for every success; instead, I focused on highlighting the achievements of my team. Whether it was through immediate feedback or allowing them to make decisions without constantly checking in, I saw that my role was to guide quietly, enabling them to grow independently.
Listening and Adaptation: Learning to Walk Behind
One of the key lessons from The One Minute Manager is the importance of listening and adapting to the individual needs of each team member. Over my years in various roles, I realized that different people need different types of leadership. Some require clear direction, while others thrive with autonomy.
Walking behind gave me the flexibility to adapt my leadership style based on the needs of my team. Some days, I’d need to be more hands-on, offering support and guidance; other days, I’d simply step back and let them handle the tasks. Listening to their concerns and understanding their motivations helped me lead more effectively, ensuring they felt heard and valued.
The Long-Term Impact of Leading from Behind
With over eight years of professional experience, I’ve come to appreciate the lasting impact of this approach. By walking behind, I wasn’t just solving immediate problems — I was helping my team develop skills and confidence that would serve them in the long run.
The One Minute Manager taught me to value small, consistent efforts in leadership, and Lao Tzu reminded me to lead humbly. Together, these ideas shaped my leadership style. The result? A team that is not only capable of succeeding without constant oversight but also willing to take the lead when needed.
Conclusion
Lao Tzu’s wisdom — “To lead people, walk behind them” — and the lessons I learned from The One Minute Manager have profoundly influenced my leadership style. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about standing in the front or asserting control; it’s about empowering others, giving them the trust and space to grow, and supporting them with humility. By walking behind, you foster a team that thrives on independence, creativity, and shared success.
That said, leadership is a journey, and I’m still very much in the process of learning and growing as a leader. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities for continuous improvement. While I’ve embraced the principles of walking behind, I know that there’s always room to refine my approach, adapt to the needs of my team, and keep developing both personally and professionally.
Ultimately, the best leaders are those who, when their work is done, see their team succeed and know that their subtle guidance was a vital part of that achievement. But they also understand that leadership is a never-ending path of learning, self-reflection, and progress.
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