Chapter 35 After the chapter · Formation of Practical Viewpoint Group and Consciousness Establishment

The formation of a group can be roughly divided into four stages: 1. Formative period In the early stage of the formation of the group, it depends on the planning and arrangement of the leader. The members are very polite, and they are unwilling to express their unfamiliarity with the operation plan of the group when they have opinions. The centripetal force is seriously insufficient, the goals of the group are unclear, and the leader is only superficial. Dependence on the top may not necessarily be sincere. There are many problems among members and they may collapse at any time. Leaders also tend to maintain superficial harmony.

2. Stormy period Group members are more daring to express their opinions and needs because they are familiar with each other gradually, and because of the increased influence, members must define their rights more clearly. The superficial harmony, under the pressure of strong competition, no longer exists the influence on the leader. Criticism and attacks surface, disgruntled or hurt members often leave or betray the group in a divisive manner, and the leadership's ability is severely tested. 3. Specification period After a period of intense competition, power was re-integrated and distributed, and the members who remained in the group gradually needed to re-set the group's goals and operational plans. Although members still cared about their own power and position, they also began to care about common interests. Although they often have opinions on the leaders, they actively suggest that the most important job for more leaders is to establish a group consensus as soon as possible.

4. Maturity period Increased intimacy among members, more open and flexible operating rules, mutual encouragement, requirements, and positive suggestions are more than negative criticism and leader's friendship support is greater than authority obedience, group goals are clear, members actively support the completion of goals, and group efficiency reach the highest point. Leaders in the formative stage often whitewash the peace and maintain superficial harmony with authority and prestige, so that the group has been stuck in the formative stage and unable to grow. Excellent leaders usually have the courage to bring the group into a stormy period, and let the opinions and problems of group members surface. When necessary, they are even more courageous to exclude members who are no longer suitable for the group with the spirit of a strong man, so that the new group can go smoothly. form.

Groups that pass through the stormy period will naturally enter the normative period.Leaders must clarify the group's goals and the importance of new operating rules, and strive to achieve group consensus, and maintain healthy growth of members and the group with a more flexible organizational model. If the integration of the normative period is successful, the group will soon enter the mature period. The group in the mature stage has high efficiency, the group grows rapidly, a large number of new members join in, and the group soon enters a new formation stage. During the four growth stages, the group has gradually expanded and diversified between cycles.

The time of Xiang Yu's separation was the formation period of the new group, but Xiang Yu devoted himself to the power of the leader, maintained the superficial integration of the group, and prevented dissatisfied members of the group from expressing their opinions.This has kept Xiang Yu's group superficially obedient and unable to enter the group's stormy period. The members of the group have no way to express their true opinions, so they have to resort to force.Liu Bang conquered the Three Qins, Tian Rong unified the Three Qis, and the regimes of Wei, Zhao and other countries alternated, which finally caused the group to collapse before it could grow.

The Liu Bang Group developed rapidly after the establishment of Guanzhong, but because it has been in the formation stage, Han Xin's command power cannot be effective. The Battle of Pengcheng brought the Liu Bang Group into a stormy period, and some members with insufficient recognition also quit automatically. Liu Bang therefore had the opportunity to lead the group into a normative period and re-integrate internal forces, which also enabled the group to successfully escape from the stormy period and move towards maturity. The Liu Bang Group has experienced earth-shaking victories and defeats in a very short period of time. The reason why it can still stabilize its position and enter the situation of confrontation with Xiang Yu is that Liu Bang's weak position is conducive to the smooth development of its own group.

On the contrary, Xiang Yu's strong leadership prevented the group from growing, and instead made him lose his absolute advantage in the early years. Lao Tzu's point of view that softness overcomes rigidity lies in the subtlety.