Sun Tzu
Leadership
Sun Tzu (lived around 500
BC)
A Chinese general (pictured right) whose book, The Art of War has
had a big influence on strategy in politics and business.
Gordon Gekko was an admirer in the film Wall
Street.
What did he say about strategy?
1. Know your enemy
Avoid your enemy's strengths and strike at his weaknesses.
Victory is achieved by:
a) attacking where the enemy is unprepared.
b) attrition (wearing the enemy down.)
c) deception (pretending inferiority before striking) - more important than anything.
d) breaking up the enemy's alliances
e) use spies to gather information about him.
If you are numerically weaker, be elusive, defensive and capable of withdrawal.
2. Use your strengths
Evaluate the size and quality of your army (see point 3) and exploit your strengths in five key areas.
- leadership (see point 4).
- relationships with government and the impact of politics.
- terrain (where the battle is fought).
- management (availability of supplies, organization, control of troops and allocation
of jobs).
An eighteenth century bamboo copy of the Art of War is pictured right.
3. Mind, morality and morale matter
In war, more important than physical force are:
- moral strength (from serenity and self-control)
- the army’s morale and discipline (from training and fair
rewards and punishments).
4. Leadership
A great general:
- leads by example (he has “wisdom, sincerity, humanity, courage and strictness”).
- inspires unity of purpose (so that each soldier is dedicated to victory).
- creates change to his advantage (adapting to his situation and the enemy’s).
- is decisive, knowledgeable about military strategy and
ruthless in battle (never fearful of casualties).
- takes calculated (but never unnecessary) risks.
5. Speed and preparation without fighting
Keeping the enemy’s state intact is substantially superior to destroying it.
Be prepared - in the film Wall
Street Gordon Gekko (pictured right, played by Michael Douglas) quotes Sun Tzu:
“Every battle is won before it is ever fought”.
But, if fighting is necessary, speed is vital to catch the enemy unprepared.
Key quotes on strategy
Know the enemy and know yourself.
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics before strategy is the noise before
defeat.
A confused army leads to another’s victory.
Key quotes on war
What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy.
All warfare is based upon deception.
Those skilled in war subdue the enemy’s army without battle.
Key quotes on
leadership
Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.
A leader leads by example, not by force.
|