Creating Resilient Leaders with Reference to the Teachings of Old Master Confucius

Can one, in these days and times, be really excited or enthusiastic about Confucianism or the teachings of Confucius? Of course, the answer is an emphatic yes. This author would argue that one should especially appreciate the idea of building resilience in oneself and in one's leadership ways. It is also about one's sheer good sense, and growing one's basic character, building one's discipline as well as developing one's humanistic ways. Confucian leaders include some of Singapore's founding fathers and pioneers as well as the Japanese entrepreneurs such as the late Konosuke Matsushita, just to name a few. Indeed the Confucian's key ideas and values such as – gentleman (lady) (jen), character, integrity, learning, positive thinking, diligence and prudence – are still fresh and relevant in today's context to help contribute to building and growing one's (leadership) resilience, if not excellence. This literature survey paper is an adaptation, an update and an expansion of a Chapter section of Low (2013) Leading successfully in Asia, “Being Resilient, the Confucian Way.”