The Art of WarSun Tzu

Main Takeaways

The study of Leadership was already underway 2,500 years ago

There are many different ways to understand the world

These early studies and diverse viewpoints are useful in our own daily lives

Sun TzU

Sun Tzu - Military general whose work has survived over 2,500 years.

Tactical advice maps to a wide variety of situations

Text has influenced leaders from Ancient Chinese Emperors to Napoleon to Western Corporate Executives

Taoism - Tao Te Ching

• Ancient Chinese Religion / Philosophy• Key text: Tao Te Ching• Knowing others is wisdom;

• Knowing the self is enlightenment

• Mastering others requires force;

• Mastering the self requires strength;

• He who knows he has enough is rich.• What does Taoism seem to value? • Compare/Contrast Tao Te Ching with Art of War. • Book Recommendation: Tao of Pooh

Non-Western worldviews

Example: American Individualist Society vs. Chinese Collectivist Society*

“We” Orientation “Me” Orientation

Positive Association with whatever is rooted in tradition

Positive association with whatever is “new”

Pressure to conform to groups Fitting in and conforming to group norms is unnecessary or even discouraged

Rules promote stability, order, obedienceIndividual Rights seen as most important. Rules attempt to ensure independence,

choices, and freedom of speech

Working with others and cooperating is the norm. Refusal to cooperate and

wanting to be independent or stand out is seen as shameful. Everyone must rely on

others for support.

Relying or being dependent on others is seen as shameful. People are

encouraged to do things on their own, to rely on themselves.

*Passage taken from “Teaching English in China,” by Robert Wyss Jr. and Emily A. Thrush

Bringing it home

• Let’s all share our Art of War passages!

The Art of WarSun Tzu