Skip to main content

What Sun Tzu Art of War Taught Us: Hard on the Problem Soft on People

As we know, Sun Tzu does not advocate a martinet-style of leadership. Instead, he states that a leader must be strong enough to executive the strategy in the organization. On the other hand, the leader must also be confident and trusting enough to allow his team to carry out the strategy successfully.  It is thus both HARD and SOFT: Hard on the Problem Soft on the People.  There are 5-Ways to Sun Tzu Leadership:
  1. Build Your Character, not just Your Image.  To Sun Tzu, a leader must be courageous, sincere and yet humane. But a leader must always appear to be in control of the situation, exuding confidence and assurance at all times. This confidence is not a facade, but based on true inside confidence. In short, if the leader has even one doubt, his followers will have several.
  2. Lead with Actions, Not Just Words.  The best way to show your character is not to talk about it, but set the example. Talk is cheap.  You should never say one thing and focus on another. 
  3. Share Your Team's Trials, Not Just Their Triumphs.  If you expect your team to sacrifice, you must sacrifice more. Prove to them that you do not think yourself special or above them.  In this way, you establish a bond with them that will take the team through the toughest times.
  4. Assign Clearly Defined Missions: Do Not Tolerate Confusion.  Your team must first understand how their efforts fit into the overall picture. Divisions within the organization must know how they support each other. There must be absolutely no in-fighting. 
  5. Make Your Strategy Drive Your Organization.  Do not fire-fight, instead fire up your people. Strategize properly and get your team drive the strategies.  Your organization should be driven by plans, not driven by despair

By Andy Ng, whose programs on Sun Tzu or Sun Zi Art of War, have been delivered on 5 platforms: Art of War for Sales, Customer Service, People Management, Leadership and Coaching. Details on courses are found hereWhether you’re leading your own organization or simply want to further your success, this rare course Leadershp with Sun Tzu Art of War on 30 July Wed 9 am to 1 pm will give you miles ahead of your competition. Related articles:

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Kindness as a Way of Life: How Kindness can Reward You 6 Times Over

Kindness as a Way of Life by Andy Ng Kindness is a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries, enriches human connections, and has the power to transform lives. It goes beyond mere acts of charity or random good deeds. To me, kindness, when practiced as a way of life, becomes a profound philosophy that can shape our interactions with others, the world around us, and even our own well-being. In this article, we will explore the multifaceted aspects of kindness as a way of life, touching on non-violent communication, the limitations of traditional charity, the potential harms of helping, the deliberate cultivation of kindness, and the incredible rewards it brings. 1.       Non-Violent Communication Non-violent communication (NVC) is a key component of practicing kindness as a way of life. Developed by Marshall B. Rosenberg, NVC emphasizes empathetic communication that seeks to understand and connect with others on a deeper level. It encourages active listening, empath

New Age Mobile Numerology

Many people look at 'mobile number change luck' with skepticism, they say, how can just one simple mobile number change create so many changes in a person's life?   Also, the mobile numbers are given to us by random by the telcos, how can our fate be assigned by the telcos at random? Besides, isn't it true that our lives and fates are determined by birth and what we do, how can a small mobile number, which is a modern invention, have any effect?  How about people in the past without mobile numbers?  You mean they don't have a life without mobile numbers, right? One more thing: you cannot just change your mobile number and expect your life to change. If this is so, wouldn't everybody be rich just by changing their mobile numbers? Finally, isn't this kind of fortune-telling thing more of psychology and blind faith than science?   If so, how can we trust anything that is not proven and not science? Today let's resolve all these doubts and I welcome your co

If Not You, Who Else?

I learnt this very powerful 5-word phrase from Singapore's highest ever box-office movie ever: "Ah Boys to Men II". In one scene, the recruits were about to start their 3-day field camp.  Their Officer-in-Command asked them, "Before we moved out, anybody not feeling well?"  All the soldiers replied loudly, "No Sir!!!" "Gentlemen", continued the Officer, "Every time the training gets tougher, one thought comes to your mind, 'Why Must I Serve National Service?' "My answer to you is, 'If Not You, Then Who Else?'" Wow!  What a powerful phrase!  If Not You, Who Else may mean: You are the most suitable person, and we can't find anyone better than you.  This is appreciation at the highest level How can you push this responsibility to someone else? I am making a request to you specifically, please don't reject my request Can you find me another person more suitable than you? Please refer me anot