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How Yijing 4 Life Stages helps us in Leadership and Management

The 4 Stages of Leadership According to Yijing

1. 元 Yuan – Start Right

Leadership Question: Should we begin?

Every success starts with a worthy beginning.

Before launching a project, hiring someone, entering a partnership or introducing change, a leader must ask:

  • Is this aligned with our purpose?
  • Are the conditions right?
  • Do we have the right people?
  • Why are we doing this?

Many projects fail not because of poor execution, but because they should never have started.

Leadership lesson:

Great leaders don't just start quickly—they start wisely.

2. 亨 Heng – Gain Momentum

Leadership Question: How do we keep moving?

Once the journey begins, leaders must build momentum.

This is where communication, trust, teamwork and problem-solving become critical.

People begin encountering resistance.

Processes require adjustment.

Leaders inspire people to continue despite uncertainty.

Leadership lesson:

Leadership is about creating momentum, not merely giving instructions.

3. 利 Li – Create Mutual Benefit

Leadership Question: Who benefits?

Yijing teaches that success should create benefit.

A decision is sustainable only if multiple stakeholders gain.

Good leaders ask:

  • Does this benefit customers?
  • Does it help employees grow?
  • Does it strengthen the organisation?
  • Does society benefit?

If only one party wins, success rarely lasts.

This stage resonates strongly with your Love Intelligence philosophy.

Sustainable leadership creates value for everyone, not just profit for one.

4. 贞 Zhen – Stay True

Leadership Question: Can we sustain success?

Many organisations reach success.

Few sustain it.

This stage is about integrity, discipline and perseverance.

Can leaders remain true to their values when under pressure?

Can the organisation continue improving instead of becoming complacent?

Can success survive leadership succession?

Leadership lesson:

Success is not what you achieve. It is what you can sustain.

Applying Yuan Heng Li Zhen to Management

StageManagement FocusLeader's Question
Yuan (Start)Vision & PlanningAre we starting the right initiative?
Heng (Progress)Execution & TeamworkHow do we maintain momentum?
Li (Benefit)Value CreationWho benefits from this decision?
Zhen (Steadfast)Sustainability & EthicsCan this success endure?

Why Every Leader Should Learn This

Most management courses teach planning, execution and control.

Yijing goes one level deeper.

It teaches leaders to understand the natural life cycle of every endeavour.

Whether you are:

  • launching a new product,
  • leading organisational change,
  • building a high-performance team,
  • growing a business,
  • developing future leaders,
  • or even raising a family,

everything follows these four stages.

When leaders recognise which stage they are in, they stop applying the wrong solution to the wrong problem.

That is why Yuan Heng Li Zhen is not just ancient Chinese philosophy—it is a timeless leadership framework.  Our next Yijing Leadership and Management course is on 24 July 2026, details at here https://asiatrainers.org/yjlm

A memorable takeaway:

Most leaders ask, "What should I do next?"
Yijing teaches you to ask, "Which stage am I in?"
Once you know the stage, the right leadership action becomes much clearer.

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