Leadership and organizational patterns in the Daodejing

Purpose - Although the Daodejing is a text that is more than 2,400 years old, its concepts regarding leadership nevertheless fit well into current discussions on sustainability and responsibility. This paper aims to explore these concepts.Design methodology approach - The paper focuses on the strategic aspects that can be found in the Daodejing's approach to leadership.Findings - The Daodejing offers interesting perspectives on the relationship between personal development and sustainability. Because of their topicality these concepts are moreover particularly interesting within the context of corporate culture and glocalization for multinational companies operating in China.Originality value - The paper explores aspects of the philosophy of the Daodejing that often get neglected, but which offer interesting perspectives on current issues in management.