How lessons of ” The Art of War” by Tzu Sun are relevant to succeeding in the business world
Written more than 2,000 years ago, The Art of War by the Chinese warrior Sun-Tzu is still a text that’s well-regarded for its formula for victory. It is written with a mystical style of speech, and the choice of words help make it relatively easy to transfer the lessons to more than just the battlefield.
The ultimate purpose of the text is to show how a leader can use psychology to achieve his goals. For the purpose of this discussion, the word “psychology” has a few meanings, including how other people think, your own thought processes, as well as the situations that are created by psychology and ultimately human nature. This thought process is as effective in business as in war situations because in both situations people make their moves and act based upon their own nature.
While there is no guaranteed formula for success or a guaranteed strategy to avoid defeat in either war or business, there are certain traits that lead to success. Leaders on the battlefield and in the boardroom are both able to adapt to certain situations. For example, the game of negotiation isn’t won by arguing. Rather negations are won by planning and adapting; likewise, no two victories in war or business are the same, their form adapts to the factors of each specific situation.
Here are a few of Sun-Tzo’s principles, and how they relate to the business world.
Winning Without Battle
Sun-Tzo abhorred the idea of casualties being a byproduct of victory and wrote, “Thus those skilled in war subdue the enemy’s army without battle … . They conquer by strategy.”
In other words, even if you don’t have the same resources your competition has, you can still succeed. The key is to not pit yourself directly against a larger, stronger opponent. Rather, use guile and learn to use your enemies’ strengths against them and to capitalize upon their efforts.
Knowledge
“Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.”
In business, it is vital that you know and understand the procedures, policies and tactics of your competition. At the same time, it is crucial that you have an honest appraisal of your own strengths and weaknesses. ASWOT analysis is aimed at providing precisely this perspective of both your business and your competitor’s. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. You can learn about your competition by physically visiting them and using their products. Take an honest look at what they do and compare it to what you do. You can then capitalize on your strengths and take steps to fix your weaknesses to avoid any competitive threat.
Be Prepared
While this is a common lesson that many learn while growing up, it’s one that has been around for thousands of years. In fact, two centuries ago Sun-Tzu wrote:
“To … not prepare is the greatest of crimes; to be prepared beforehand for any contingency is the greatest of virtues.”
Whether speaking of warfare or business, unexpected events can cause the most damage. It’s important to commit time, capital, and people resources to planning and preparation. While the process may not seem very productive compared to just doing something, it is actually an investment in future success. While planning in business is important, it’s just as important to plan and prepare as an individual with your own goals and one- to three-year plans.
Speed
“What is of the greatest importance in war is extraordinary speed: One cannot afford to neglect opportunity.”
Your customers want 24/7/365 service and instant gratification. Asking a client to wait for you to complete a project, bring a product to market, or make yourself available to help them is akin to inviting them to visit your competitor. Speed makes you a leader rather than a “me-too” follower in the competitive business environment.
Vision and Leadership
“The general must be first in the toils and fatigues of the army. In the heat of summer he does not spread his parasol, nor in the cold of winter don thick clothing… . He waits until the army’s wells have been dug and only then drinks; until the army’s food is cooked before he eats; until the army’s fortifications have been completed, to shelter himself.”
Leadership cannot be overrated. The most successful businesses have strong leadership that can rally the troops, motivate greater achievement and command the kind of respect that inspires others to willingly follow. In business, words that aren’t backed up by action are seen as nothing more than idle chatter. However, managers who lead by example set the tone for success.
Staffing And Delegation
“A sovereign of high character and intelligence must be able to know the right man, should place the responsibility on him, and expect results.”
Finding and hiring the best people is important; and providing them with the opportunity to excel cannot be ignored. By hiring smart, talented professionals you can feel confident delegating, which in turn leads to those individuals continually stepping up to the plate to deliver their best work.
Allies
“If an enemy has alliances, the problem is grave and the enemy’s position strong; if he has no alliances, the problem is minor and the enemy’s position weak.”
With like-minded allies, you’ll have the ability to pool resources and work together to achieve business goals. The idea is that it’s better to own 25 percent of something than 100 percent of nothing.
As you can see there are many lessons that can be applied to the business world, making this old text well worth studying.
strategy and business 