A Daoist sage is a wise person. And wisdom only comes with time and knowledge.
#1: Intentionality
A Daoist sage knows the practical intention needed for an activity they are engaged in. They do what the situation demands and nothing more.
Knowing your “practical intentions” is critical to career development. All strategies must start with choosing to be intentional. You must have the right blend of personal and professional intentions to advance your career. Fail to set the practical intentions, and you drastically reduce your chances of success.
Everyone will tell you that outcomes are essential. But Daoism says to focus on setting “practical” intentions. And it provides context for what real intention-setting should look like.
Do what the situation demands: Easier said than done, right? No one expects you to predict the future or plan for every contingency. Instead, a Daoist engages in any experience with an appreciation of the uniqueness of the task at hand. The practical intention may require understanding ethical considerations, social and cultural effects, and more. It may also need you to decide between competing priorities. A Daoist knows how to consider all angles and make the primary choices necessary to address the specific needs of the situation… and nothing more.
Practical Wisdom tip: Invest in your intention-setting skills. Learn how to do what a situation demands and nothing more. Intention-setting takes practice, but Daoists make time to hone their skills.
#2: Spontaneity
A Daoist sage knows how to improvise, balance conflicting agendas, and interpret rules and principles, considering the particularities of each situation.
Have you ever seen an improv show?
A couple of months ago, my wife and I took a break from the kids and went to a local comedy shop for a night of improv. I hadn’t been to an improv show before and did not know what to expect. But the show grabbed us from the start and never let go. Not only was it gut-busting — I don’t think I’ve laughed that much in my entire life — but the performers had a masterful way of playing off each other.
Improv is a team sport. It requires a robust skill set, sure. But more than that, it requires a deep understanding of your surroundings, your teammates’ talents, and the conversation’s flow.
Businesses have picked up on the power of improv strategies, melding them into training programs. But this is nothing new. Daoism cites the power of spontaneous thinking as a critical skill in maneuvering life’s challenges. Rather than applying strict rules to every situation, Daoism encourages you to understand the context.
Practical Wisdom: Improvisation is a catalyst for creativity. It would be best to digest the situation’s realities — often in real-time — and run your actions through the filter of context. In the business world, too often, the old guard gets caught up in rigid thinking when they must adapt. Reading about improv techniques and considering all angles is an excellent way to hone this skill. After all, “It’s better to laugh than cry.”
#3: Culture
A Daoist sage knows how to read a situation and move beyond a community’s black-and-white rules to see the gray in a situation.
Consider this scenario.
You’re new to a job. You’ve been working hard at developing and honing new skills. You’re hungry to get your first shot. And sure enough, you are finally given a high-profile project. You dive in. You put everything you have into crafting the perfect project plan, sign it with pride, and turn it in for review.
Then, you’re told that they need to “run it up the ladder.”
By the time the project begins, dozens of others have reviewed your work of art. It’s been ripped to shreds. Then, the project starts, and more new people are included. They modify it even more. When the project launches months later, it looks nothing like your original plan.
And you know what? That’s a good thing.
One of the principal challenges of new employees is acclimating to a company’s culture. Recognizing that your work fits a complex social system of competing directives and incentives can be incredibly difficult. But every person who successfully navigates a company — knows how to read its culture.
Practical Wisdom tip: Become a student of your workplace and those around you. Watch how they interact with each other. Listen to how they talk about the company. Pay special attention to not only WHAT they are saying to you but HOW they are saying it. Trust me, your career will thank you.
#4: Experience
A Daoist sage knows that hands-on training and experiences are one of the primary paths to success.
In fact, this principle is likely where we, as a society, got the idea that experience is synonymous with age. More years on earth leads to more experience, which leads to more wisdom.
That’s the theory, at least.
But Daoism has a different perspective. Instead of focusing on the time quotient, focus on the quality of experience. Today’s market is filled with hands-on solutions to learning that go beyond the textbook. Hands-on programs are widely available whether you want to learn computer programming or Calculus.
Technical skills have their role in the marketplace. Daoism considers other skills, such as courage and humility, just as necessary, if not more so. You may need to step outside your comfort zone to find new opportunities as you develop your career. Volunteering with a non-profit or raising your hand for a project that scares you can be a great way to lean into these wisdom-creating experiences. You might initially feel uncomfortable, but you’re building bravery and authenticity muscles for the future.
Practical Wisdom tip: If you want to enter a career field, consider volunteering or pursuing hands-on learning. Go beyond the conceptual and get your hands dirty. Also, don’t forget to invest in experiences with soft skill sets like innovation and honesty.
#5: Perspective
A Daoist sage knows how to take on the perspective of another — to see the situation as the other person does and thus understand the other person’s perception. This perspective-taking enables a Daoist to connect with others and make decisions that serve the client’s (student’s, patient’s, friend’s) needs.
Daoists understand the relationship between seemingly opposite attributes. You have probably seen this concept illustrated in the popular Daoist symbol of Yin-Yang. Understanding the other side of an argument or situation has profound value if life and business. Seeing a situation from another’s perspective is the most direct way to integrate the needs and efforts of everyone involved.
Returning to the perfect project plan example we used above, the key challenge the creator of the initial project plan struggled with was understanding all the players involved in the project. Without a big-picture perspective, you risk feeling like your work was sub-par or unvalued.
In reality, everyone who weighed in on the project has a perspective. They have been charged with their responsibilities and also want to contribute and have a promising career. They may even point out genuine flaws with the plan.
If you only focus on the project plan and the perception that others are messing with your work, you may get very frustrated. However, suppose you take a broader perspective and experience the additional input and changes contributing to your work. With this new understanding and empathy, you can realize different skills and experiences others will contribute to the project’s overall success.
Practical Wisdom tip: When someone at work says or does something that conflicts with your intentions, instead of getting frustrated, try reframing your response from a place of curiosity, asking, “why is this so important to you?” You’ll better understand their perspective and what’s driving them. And you’ll learn how to integrate their wisdom with your own.
What‘s Next?
Wisdom is not only the realm of Daoist sages. We could use some Daoist thinking about our lives and careers. Daoism offers excellent stepping stones toward better experiences and thoughtfulness, and the five elements outlined can help you get there.
When applying Daoism to your career, keep in mind the five Daoist ideas we discussed today:
