Power and organisation
Xiao He
The back office
Xiao He (Western Han · died 193 BC) — The back office.
What actually happened?
Han Xin, who had been given little responsibility in Hanzhong, slipped away one night. Xiao He heard of it and did not wait to report; he rode out after him. Someone told Liu Bang the chancellor had run. Liu Bang felt he had lost both hands. Two or three days later Xiao He came back, and Liu Bang swore at him: why did you run? I did not run, said Xiao He, I went after someone who did. Who? Han Xin. Dozens of generals have deserted, said Liu Bang, and you chased none. Generals are easy to find, said Xiao He. A man like Han Xin is one of a kind. If you only want to be king of Hanzhong, you do not need him. If you want the realm, nobody else will do.
He took the records, not the gold
When the army entered the Qin capital, the generals ran for the treasury. Xiao He alone went first to the chancellor's office and sealed away the laws and maps. Later Liu Bang knew every pass and census figure because of that. Others took what was valuable now; he took what would be used.
When a new project starts and everyone fights for titles and budget, the person who has tidied the history and the rules is steadiest three months on.
He asked first what made the fighting possible
In 202 BC the generals said they had fought a hundred battles and Xiao He none. Liu Bang answered with the hunt: the hound runs down the hare, the hunter says where it is. He ranked those who made the battles possible above those who won them.
When a project succeeds, thank the coders. Then also the one who won the brief, the budget and the rota.
He treated keeping the right person as his job
When Han Xin left, Xiao He rode after him himself, and the reason he gave was no kindness but this: if you want the realm, nobody else will do. For him the rear meant grain, and also not losing the person the plan needs.
When your strongest colleague is about to leave, your first thought should be to go after them, not to say the road is theirs to choose.
How do I use it today?
If you are the one doing the supporting work, so that others can charge ahead, do not just complain that nobody sees it. Write on a sheet: if my part were gone, which things would stop this month? Put each as a fact someone can check and hand it to whoever decides the rewards. If you are the one ranking, do not rank by the numbers. Ask who made each success possible. His three acts, taking the records, chasing Han Xin and holding the heartland, were one judgment: find the thing without which the whole job fails.
Deep read
Read alongside
Further
Lines to keep
The hound runs down the hare; the hunter points out where.
Generals are easy to find. A man like Han Xin is one of a kind.
He held the rear, soothed the people and kept the army fed.