No. 7 师, Force, Team

Hexagram 7 Meaning: Leadership, Discipline and Inner Strength — Love, Career & Personality Guide

No. 6 Stage Division: Troops and soldiers and horses can only be used by wise monarchs to open up new territories and protect the country. Only in this way can we create great achievements! Villains and bad people cannot use it without permission, otherwise it will cause chaos and endanger the country! Causing death! Team: Business leaders who want to build a business empire and an executive team should naturally not be profit-oriented, but should be based on integrity and service. Only in this way can we become bigger and stronger, lay a solid foundation and remain invincible.

No. 5 Stage Now that the troops and horses have been dispatched, the troops have been arranged, and the war has been launched, if you find that there is danger to defend and land to occupy, you should naturally act quickly to seize the opportunity and seize the opportunity. There is no fault, it will only be beneficial! Team building should be based on merit rather than blindly appointing cronies! Leading troops to fight and go on expeditions is different from village bullies and street bullies, who command their sons and relatives to bully weak villagers. Nepotism is like appointing the eldest son to be the marshal, while the younger son is responsible for food, grass, and follow-up work. This will only lead to a situation where the army is defeated like a mountain and the carts pull casualties. It is very dangerous!

No. 4 Stage If you encounter great resistance and it doesn't work, you can consider pausing, retreating, adjusting, and reflecting. There is nothing wrong with this. This is normal practice and not abnormal.

No. 3 Stage Sending troops to fight is to use force and brute force to resolve disputes and problems. Using force to solve problems will naturally involve the risk of casualties and failure. It’s dangerous! You may suffer heavy casualties, but still work without success, so you must be cautious!

No. 2 Stage In a team, there is no fault if we are upright and fair. Being upright and fair will bring good luck and auspiciousness. This is the way of heaven, and you will naturally be blessed. If you lead the team in this way, your boss will naturally favor you. You will rise all the way up and become an imperial envoy! You have a loyal heart, and people from all countries respect you greatly!

No. 1 Stage It can be as big as leading troops to fight, as small as forming a business team, or even leading and managing a tourist group. Formulating rules and regulations in advance and maintaining strict discipline are the most important tasks. Otherwise there is a risk of failure and accidents. There must be rules, systems, and discipline in doing things. Otherwise there is danger!

Shi Hexagram: A Startup Founder’s Path to Team Building
Initial Six (初六): “A disciplined beginning — mismanagement brings misfortune”
At the very start of his entrepreneurial journey, Zhang Ming formed a five-person team. He deeply understood the importance of "starting with discipline" and thus established clear work standards and a system of rewards and penalties. Despite the small size of the team, he managed it with structured rules, avoiding the common chaos of early-stage startups. This disciplined approach laid a solid foundation for future growth.

Nine in the Second Place (九二): “Among the ranks — auspicious, no fault; the king thrice bestows command”
As the team grew to twenty people, Zhang Ming focused on developing mid-level managers. Like a wise ruler bestowing rewards on loyal ministers, he offered equity incentives and delegated management responsibilities to high-performing employees. This “thrice-bestowed command” approach not only motivated his team but also established a solid leadership hierarchy, enabling the company’s steady growth.

Six in the Third Place (六三): “The army may carry corpses — misfortune”
During a period of rapid expansion, Zhang Ming once hired the wrong person, leading to a failed project. This painful lesson taught him the danger of “carrying corpses in the ranks.” From then on, he implemented a rigorous talent selection process, emphasizing both character and competence. He realized that team building isn’t just about adding headcount—it’s about quality over quantity.

Six in the Fourth Place (六四): “The army camps on the left — no fault”
When faced with intense competition from industry giants, Zhang Ming adopted a strategic retreat — “camping on the left” — to avoid direct confrontation. He restructured his team and focused resources on niche markets. This tactical shift helped him avoid draining head-on battles and allowed his team to develop a competitive edge in specific sectors.

Six in the Fifth Place (六五): “Game in the fields — seizing the opportunity brings no fault. The elder son leads the army; the younger follows with corpses — firmness brings misfortune”
After the company went public, Zhang Ming had to navigate the generational transition of leadership. He chose to let “the elder son lead the army,” by grooming young leaders to gradually take over. At the same time, he established a strong supervisory system to avoid the risks of having the unfit (“the younger with corpses”) in key roles. This gradual transfer of power ensured sustainable and stable growth.

Top Six (上六): “The great leader issues commands — founding a nation, inheriting a legacy; do not employ the petty-minded”
As the company became an industry leader, Zhang Ming shifted focus to building a strong corporate culture. Like a ruler setting the tone for a nation, he clearly defined the company’s mission and values, and decisively removed those who did not align with them. This strict adherence to “do not employ the petty” helped maintain a powerful sense of cohesion and execution within the organization.

The Wisdom of the Shi Hexagram
Zhang Ming’s entrepreneurial journey embodies the wisdom of the Shi Hexagram: team building is a gradual, strategic process that evolves through different stages:

In the startup phase, establish strong systems and discipline.

During growth, focus on talent development and delegation.

In maturity, reinforce company culture and institutional stability.

The Shi Hexagram reminds us that great teams are not built overnight. They must be tempered through practice, experience, and reflection. This wisdom applies not only to business management but also to anyone navigating their career. In a team, one must balance individual capability with collective collaboration—and mastering this art is one of the Shi Hexagram’s most profound teachings.