Notes on Learning to Lead [1]
(April 10, 1953)
This document is circulated for all comrades to read. It emphasizes the need to maintain close ties with the units being led, to conduct rigorous inspections, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation, to promptly address any problems that arise, to correct mistakes, and to commend achievements. Only in this way can leadership be considered appropriate to the development of circumstances, ensuring that work tasks are completed according to plan. At present, there are far too many instances of a lack of effective leadership in our economic work. We must, through the struggle against bureaucracy, acquire the ability and methods necessary to lead properly. A leader who fails to exercise leadership is not a leader at all; such a person is a bureaucrat.
Mao Zedong
April 10, 1953
[1]
These notes were written on a report dated April 3, 1953, submitted by the Party Leadership Group of the Geological Bureau of the Central People’s Government to Mao Zedong and the Central Committee, concerning an inspection of efforts to combat bureaucracy. The report stated that the most prominent manifestation of bureaucracy at the time was the disconnect between the Ministry, its regional bureaus, and the exploration teams—lack of clear information, failure to grasp the essence of major issues, lax control and insufficient oversight in work guidance, and a severe deficiency in ideological orientation. As a result, positive developments were not promoted, negative practices were not rectified, leading to abandonment of leadership and even tendencies toward decentralization. To overcome bureaucracy, it was proposed to dispatch investigation teams, assign specific responsibilities for liaison with bureaus and teams, further ascertain the situation, identify problems, and encourage bureaus and teams to expose bureaucratic practices.