Not much new under the Sun (Tzu)

I recently re-read the Art of War by Sun Tzu. Not really the most modern thinker, knowing that his guidelines on effectively leading a war were written 2500 years ago. But his work on the Art of War goes beyond military environment and rings valuable for leaders and managers in these very different times.

Two of my favorite quotes ...

"If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame."
Pretty clear. Yet there are so many leaders who are convinced it is their teams, not themselves, that need help. "I have explained them different times, but they just don't get it !". Business leaders spend a lot of time explaining what their teams should do differently, and so little time on what they themselves can do differently.


"When you lay down a law, see that it is not disobeyed; if it is disobeyed, the offender must be put to death."
A powerful illustration is that of Ts'ao Ts'ao, a military leader who forbade his troops to destroy crops once they had conquered an enemy. After his own horse inadvertently trampled a field of corn, he condemned himself to death !

Now, cutting off people's heads has gotten out of fashion, but there so often seems to be a different set of (unwritten) rules for those in leadership positions than for the rest. "Do as I say ...". Yet leaders then wonder why levels of engagement of their teams are low ... !

I once in a while pick up a new book on leadership or management that promises 'breakthrough' methods. I have come to the conclusion that all there is to know, when it comes to management and leadership, is more or less known. It's the execution that is missing.