Zizhang said: “In the Book of Documents it is written: ‘When Gaozong was mourning his father, he did not speak for three years.’ What does this mean?” Confucius said: “This did not apply only to Gaozong; all the ancients did the same. When a king died, all the officials gathered together and took their orders from the chief minister for three years.”
子張曰:「書云:『高宗諒陰,三年不言』何謂也?」子曰:「何必高宗?古之人皆然。君薨,百官總已以聽於冢宰三年。」
Take some time away to pause and reflect. The world won’t come to an end while you’re not there. Your office will be functioning normally when you return. Your staff might even be pleased to see you come back from it refreshed and full of life. Continue reading Leadership Lessons from Confucius: take some time away