Analytical Biography of a Leader: Sun Tzu

            Sun Tzu is a name I have heard referenced in literature and films but never read his work. I was personally interested because analyzing Sun Tzu will allow me to get into a mindset that I am unfamiliar with — the warring and scheming mind. Because I am in the education field, I tend to read about leaders in education — Littky, Robinson, and Confucius. But I know that if I want to be a leader I need to read about leadership in many contexts. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is not only found in the history section of the bookstore, but also in business.

As I read Sun Tzu I recalled presidential speeches on war, historical films that talked about strategies and the planning that goes into tactics, and I recalled when I went to the Churchill War Rooms in London. I realized many of the wars that the United States and European leaders handled were — and are — similar to Sun Tzu stratagems. Sun Tzu has influenced my life and identity — as a citizen of the United States — directly.

Background and Leadership Attributes

Sun Tzu was born in 544 B.C.E. which was around the same time Confucius was born, (Galvin, 2003). Sun Tzu — born as Sun Wu — was born into a well established clan of arms and fighting experts. The ideas that he wrote down in The Art of War would have been those of his clan and his own. Information would be considered property and something to inherit and pass on. The information in the Art of War would have come down through the clan via oral traditions and written works. Sun Tzu was also born in an era that followed a forty year treatise that ended and war broke out again. Taoism was also a philosophy that would have influenced Sun Tzu’s methods, (Galvin, 2003).

Leadership Principles

The four basic needs of followers are: trust, compassion, stability, and hope (Rath, 2008, p. 82). From the YouTube video How Great Leaders Inspire Action presented by Sinek (2010) we learn that there is a Golden Circle for communicating innovation. The most inner part of the circle is the why, the next outer layer is the how, followed by the what. These layers also coordinate with the brain. The outer layer of the mind is the neocortex which handles rational and analytical thought and language — the what. The inner layers are managed by the limbic systems, which are an older part of the mind. This system — representing the why and how — is responsible for human behavior, decision making, and feelings such as trust and loyalty. It is through the limbic system that leaders connect to their followers. Leaders need to communicate the why and how for their followers to follow.

Sun Tzu takes great care and responsibility of his followers, “Now an army is exposed to six several calamities, not arising from natural causes, but from the faults for which the general is responsible. These are: (1) Flight; (2) insubordination; (3) collapse; (4) ruin; (5) disorganisation; (6) rout,” (Galvin, 2003, p. 44.) He knows that he is responsible for these calamities. A principle of great leadership is taking responsibility. Sun Tzu is taking responsibility of the people who follow him. This leadership strength — responsibility — allows the leader to “take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty,” (Rath, 2008, p. 215). Responsibility is a strength in the Executing Theme. Sun Tzu’s commitment to honesty and loyalty can be read in Chapter Thirteen where he discusses his use of spies, “They can’t be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness,” (Galvin, 2008, p. 60). By being honest with the spies in his employment he can insure loyalty.

Revisiting the Golden Circle, Sun Tzu makes use of the why inner core of the circle. “Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve. Officers and men alike will put forth their utmost strength,” (Sun, p. 49). Soldiers who are willing to die for a cause believe what their leaders believe; they agree on the why. In English we have the phrase do-or-die. Those participating in the idea, thing, or behavior who are willing to die know why they are willing to do so.

Sun Tzu also gives empathetic advice with is a strength in the Relationship Building theme, “On the day they are ordered out to battle, your soldiers may weep, those sitting up bedewing their garments, and those lying down letting their tears run down their cheeks. But let them once be brought to bay, and they will display the courage of a Chu or a Kuei,” (Galvin, 2003, p. 50). He understand that the soldiers will go through an array of emotions and they shouldn’t be robbed of those moments. When they have passed through the gambit of sensibilities they will be ready for war.

Sun Tzu as a Great Leader

A great leader leaves a lasting impression, even after they are gone. The Art of War was written twenty-five hundred years ago and it is still referenced in modern politics and culture. It is said that Napoleon — who was a great military leader in his own right — may have read a translation of Sun Tzu’s work (Galvin, 2003). Military leaders learned from their predecessors gains and failures. Over the millennia works were translated and shared. Sun Tzu’s work was shared with the world.

The Chinese have kept records and commentaries for centuries. Much how the authenticity of Shakespeare’s works are questioned, Sun Tzu has been debated, commented on, and analyzed by scholars, generals, and head of states alike, (Galvin, 2003, p. XIX). The most notable Chinese commentaries are from the distinguished authors Wang Hsi, Ts’ao Ts’ao, Li Ch’uian, Meng Shih, Tu Yu along with his grandson Tu Mu. Chapter Seven — Maneuvering — paragraph twenty-seven states, “A whole army may be robbed of its spirit; a commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind,” (Galvin, p. 33). An anecdote referring to this sentiment was stated in the Tso Chuan about a battle Ts’ao Kuei was readying for. The enemy signaled the drums for battle but Ts’ao waited until the enemies drums were beaten a third time,” (as cited in Galvin, 2003, p. 124.) When he was questioned about his choice of delay Ts’ao Kuei replied (as cited in Galvin 2003):

In battle, a courageous spirit is everything. Now the first roll of the drum tends to create the spirit, but the second it is already on the wane, and after the third it is gone altogether. I attacked when their spirit was gone and ours was at its height. Hence our victory. (p. 124)

There is evidence that Sun Tzu’s strategies are not only a theory but do work in practice. Because the his work survived, was commented on, and translated his influence continues. Sun Tzu was a leader in his time and for the future.

Personal Takeaway

I will personally take away how to construct a great team. In Strengths and Leadership it was noted that leaders who have a smidgen of all leadership attributes actually no not make effectual leaders (Rath, 2008, p. 7). When reading the Sun Tzu, I noticed that he touched upon all four leadership domains: executing, influencing, relationship building, and strategic thinking. The leadership domain which is the most noticeable is the strategic. Sun Tzu has an entire chapter dedicated to stratagems.

Personal Setting

Because Sun Tzu talks about the different domains of leadership, I realize that I am one type of leader in the classroom and my co-teacher is also another leader. But there are also leaders in the classroom. I can employ the leadership skills of the students to help with varying tasks. I wouldn’t chose a single class leader, but match the student’s leadership skills to the projects. Just like in an army there are infantrymen, spies, officers, and commanders, who are individuals, they make up a unit.

References

Galvin, D. (Ed.). (2003). The art of war Sun Tzu. New York, NY: Barnes & Noble Books.

Rath, T. (2008). Strengths based leadership. New York, NY: GALLUP PRESS.

TED Talks. (2010, May 4). Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp0HIF3SfI4&feature=related