Lǐngdǎozhě yīnggāi píngděng dài rén, ér bùshì yízhǐqìshǐ.
A leader should treat people as equals, not boss them around arrogantly.
Tips
history
This idiom describes the manners of powerful nobles in ancient China who considered it beneath their dignity to speak to servants directly — they would simply gesture with their chin (颐) or shift their breath/bearing (气使) to issue commands.
memory
颐 = chin/jaw, 指 = point/direct, 气 = air/bearing, 使 = make/command. Literally: 'chin-pointing, breath-commanding' — so arrogant they don't even open their mouth to give orders.
