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Sun Tzu: The Art of War for Managers

Chapter 1: Laying Plans

Overview & Main Points Strategic Rules:1. Thoroughly assess conditions ● Write things out, define the problem, be

flexible● “Good assessment is the foundation of

a successful operation” (P.5)2. Compare attributes● “Compare competitive strengths and

weaknesses” (P.8)3. Look for strategic turns ● “Develop strategies that go beyond

conventional rules.” (P.10)

How it Relates to Leadership ● Leaders must take all three strategic rules into

consideration● Leaders must be flexible, yet still have a plan of attack ● Leaders must connect with their followers and keep

their best intentions in mind○ The final goal should be beneficial for everyone in more ways

than one● Leaders must be creative with their strategies

How it Relates to Scripture ● Pay careful attention to

yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)

● Lead with wisdom and knowledge from experience, knowledge, and God

Chapter 2: Waging War

Overview & Main Points 1) Marshal Adequate Resources - you need “enough resources to survive.”

2) Make Time Your Ally - “What is valued in war is a quick victory, not prolonged operations.”

3) Everyone Must Profit from Victories - “Becoming stronger in the course of defeating the enemy.”

4) Know Your Craft - “What instantly sets a man apart, is that his intelligence or talent are balanced by his character or courage.”

How it Relates to Leadership 1) Leaders must learn how to sustain what it is they’re leading (“In every battle, the one with the most resources has the odds in his favor.”)2) Leaders must be aware of competing forces (“...being a little ahead of your opponent, has contributed to many victories.”)3) Leaders must be visionaries (“becoming stronger in the course of defeating the enemy.”)4) Leaders must know their stuff (“If--his character or courage is less than his intelligence, he does not dare carry out his plans.”)

How it Relates to the Christian Character1) As Jesus travelled, he utilized his regional advantages and made connections along the way.

2) Time management - always fitting in time for God. Contradiction: investing in long-term relationships

(Eph. 5:15-17)

3) Following Jesus is not an individual journey (Ecc. 4:9)

4) Amplify and invest in your strengths

Chapter 3: Attack by Stratagem

Overview & Main Points● Strategy focuses on adding real value to the

customer.

● The best policy in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy. ○ subdue the enemy’s army without fighting.

● The ultimate victory is to win without conflict. ○ necessary to seek victory before entering the

competitive arena.

Overview & Main Points ● Strategy is a planning process. It is seeking victory

before the battle.

● A weak force will eventually fall captive to a strong one if it simply holds ground and conducts a desperate defense.

● Battles are won by concentrating strengths.

How it Relates to Leadership● Just like strategy, leaders are trying to add value to

the customer or people around them.

● Just how battles are won by concentrating on strengths, as leaders, we are conditioned to focus on our top strengths. These strengths even are to help us decide which career would be best.

How it Relates to Scripture● Strategy is a planning process.

○ “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5)

● Battles are won by concentrating strengths.

○ “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Overview & Main Points High-Level Dumb

commanding from a higher position with less situational knowledge

Orders V.S. InstructionsOrders to not give way to change based on circumstance

Incompetence in Commandchange often resisted because might cause leaders to change course of direction

How it Relates to Leadership In a position of leadership, communication and humility is key to success.

Trusting those below you to act in accordance to what is best for the whole can help create situational success that will lead to long term success.

this comes from equipping and supporting those who follow you.

Correct judgement is crucial in any leadership situation to be successful, as a leader one must be able to discern the right action at the right time.

How it Relates to ScriptureDon’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain —and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. (Exodus 18:21)

Not many of you should become teachers my fellow believers for you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)