Ternary Leadership in Testy Time

Sep 20-2019   

The world today is characterized by complexity, uncertainty and diversity. To rise above the turbulences, Prof. John Yang, Co-dean of BiMBA Business School, advocates ‘Ternary Leadership’ which comprises strategy leadership, professionalism leadership, and character leadership.

In his speech at the recent SAP annual conference, he recounted the shocking experiences of some CHO’s: out of several hundred graduates from China’s top universities who they interviewed for jobs this year, very few made the cut. The main reason was the dearth of thoughtful insights and unique value judgment, something typical of people in a turbulent time. 

To achieve goals and have a safe sail, organizations must recruit, inspire and grow people. Strategy leadership is at the core of Ternary Leadership, as it shows the direction of an organization and can be regarded as the soul of the organization. Without strategy leadership, employees will not comprehend the purpose and meaning of working for the organization.

Professionalism leadership starts with clear positioning and focused devotion. Prof. Yang quoted Socrates as saying: A person who knows most clearly what to do and how to do it is most likely to win the following of others. He advised CHO’s to facilitate organizational reforms (e.g. organizational design) and pay close attention to the impact of AI on recruitment and management.

As for character leadership, Prof. Yang emphasizes integrity, broad-mindedness, and grit. Integrity has always topped surveys about leadership character in spite of social and technological changes. Broad-mindedness is of particular importance to Chinese entrepreneurs and managers who tend not to accommodate employees more capable than them. Grit, or hardiness, is held high by both Chinese and western management philosophies and determines how far one can go.