Xiao He: How a Top-Tier Chancellor Is Made

Tired of cutthroat office politics? Then take a look at Xiao He’s guide to breaking through the “ceiling” of the civil service! This book lays out in detail how Xiao He, the Han dynasty’s foremost founding “manager,” made his way to success. The key lesson is simple: “hard skills” are only your ticket in. To go from “top professional” to “the heart of the decision-making process,” you also need “soft skills”: reading the situation, choosing the right people, knowing your role, and knowing when to advance or retreat. Xiao He saw through it long ago: if all you do is keep your head down and work, at best you’ll be a “workhorse” in your boss’s eyes. The truly indispensable “meritorious contributors” are the ones who can read the way the tide is turning, invest in promising talent, and help their bosses make the right decisions. Young people today, whether you’re a workplace newbie or a mid-level manager, could all learn from Xiao He’s guide to honing those soft skills. Don’t just keep your head down and plow the fields; look up and watch where you’re going, build your network, find your niche, and, when the moment calls for it, know how to lie low and grow. After all, if you can’t become an all-rounder, how can you claim you’re aiming for the chancellor’s seat?