I recently posted a brief summary of The Art of War, one of the most famous military classics in the world. While the strategy advice is intended for military situations, so much of it actually applies to everyday situations, as well. From leadership advice to observations on human psychology, there are so many modern lessons from The Art of War that we can learn. Let’s dive in.
Lesson #1: Prepare ahead of time
Any good student knows that preparation, and organization by extension, is key. If you cram for a test, it probably won’t be as productive as studying ahead of time. Similarly, when preparing for a trip, it’s better to start early so that you’re not scrambling at the end.
Sun Tzu underlines this importance, saying that we should “plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.” As an educator, I can’t emphasize this enough. As a busy adult, I really can’t emphasize it enough. Life is always easier when you plan ahead and leave some room for flexibility. You don’t have to be a military strategist to take this and other lessons from The Art of War to heart.
Lesson #2: Don’t react emotionally
You know the feeling. Someone’s really upset you and you open your mouth to tell them exactly what you think. Then the situation only spirals from there.
It’s human to be angry. However, for the sake of conflict resolution, it’s often more helpful to take a step back and return to the situation when you’ve collected your thoughts. Sun Tzu warns against anger because it is a “fundamental cause of defeat” and makes us unfocused, easy to take advantage of, and weak. As someone who studied and worked with conflict resolution, as well as secondary students with an attitude, I can tell you that this is still very much the truth. Like I say in this post, it’s best to step away, cool down, plan out your response, and only return once you’ve gotten the majority of emotion out of your system. Not only will it help your success rate, but it will also make you look better in the long run.
Lesson #3: Your alliances are critical
One of the main lessons from The Art of War is that alliances can give you a critical boost. Any conflict resolution major knows this, as does anyone who’s ever heard the phrase “strength in numbers.” While most of us aren’t negotiating with foreign dignitaries, the wisdom still holds true in two main areas, which often overlap: friendships and networking.
If you’ve taken a business or leadership class (if you go to SDSU, I highly recommend the leadership certificate!), they’ve probably repeated time and time again how important it is to build a network. There’s an entire genre of self-help books, including How to Win Friends and Influence People, written with the intent to help you improve your networking skills. Why? Because at the end of the day, it’s not always what you know, but often who you know.
On the friend front, it’s important to examine your “alliances” because of how they affect you. Motivational speaker Jim Rohn says that we’re an average of our five closest relationships. If you’ve ever separated from a toxic friend or partner, you’ve probably seen the changes in yourself in the months following. Similarly, when you have amazing friends, their positivity and good habits probably rub off on you. You need to choose your friends carefully, as their “quality,” or fit within your life, really does impact you.
Lesson #4: A good leader understands their group and treats them well
Most of us have probably had experiences with bad bosses. You know the one–the micromanager, the one with the temper and a superiority complex, the person who has absolutely no idea how hard you work and keeps dumping things on you. Sometimes all of these people are rolled into one awful boss. What’s your reaction after being around said person?
Sun Tzu has an answer: “The one who treats me well is my leader, the one who treats me cruelly is my enemy.”
It’s true, though, isn’t it? As soon as your boss treats you badly, your entire view towards them shifts. On the other hand, if you have a good boss, you appreciate them even more. This is exactly why this is one of the most relevant lessons from The Art of War for today.
When you yourself are the leader, this becomes even more important. You need to learn who’s in your group, what they want, and how to align your team around the same goals. The better you treat them, the less likely they are to try to overthrow you. This isn’t saying that you should be a pushover by any means; however, it is important to be kind and just.
Lesson #5: Pick your fights wisely
Your parents probably taught you this when you were little, and it’s one of the most repeated lessons from The Art of War. Not everything is worth fighting about. And even if it is worth fighting about, you need to pick the opportune time. The proverb “lose the battle, win the war” sums it up nicely. Don’t just think of the present and near future; consider how your actions will affect the long term future.
Lesson #6: Leadership depends on certain characteristics
Those include intelligence, trustworthiness, humaneness, courage, and sternness. If you work on all of these, you will become a stronger leader. Sternness refers to the idea of having a system of rewards for good behavior and punishments for bad behavior, then enforcing that evenly. This is one of my favorite lessons from The Art of War because it aligns well with basically any leadership position, even today.
Lesson #7: Let them underestimate you
You’ve heard it before, but it’s one of the lessons from The Art of War that Sun Tzu repeats. He gives the example of how armies that boast about their strength often aren’t as strong as they say, and armies who allow others to underestimate them often prevail.
With that being said, you should apply this into your own life. You don’t need to brag or try to draw the most attention to yourself. Let your actions and accomplishments speak for themselves. When you do that, you’ll gain more respect and have an advantage.
Lesson #8: Watch out for sneaky tactics
There was a quote in the book that went like this: “If they ply you with expensive gifts and sweet talk, they are up to something.” Most of us probably roll our eyes and think of politicians. However, it’s true. You need to be careful when something looks too good to be true. Whether it’s bribery or a two-faced coworker, use your discernment to figure out what is legit and who has your best interests at heart.
Lesson #9: Observe, observe, observe
So much of this book discusses observation. Several times, Sun Tzu says that you must know both yourself and your enemy to win. He talks about observing the environment, other side, and your own troops in order to gain the full picture. We often jump to give our opinions and to be a part of the action–in every setting. Yet it can be beneficial to hang back, reflect, and listen. That way, when you do interact with people or try to achieve a goal, you’ll be better prepared.
Lesson #10: Energy is what the battle depends on
If you’ve ever been burnt out, you know this well. Energy creates momentum, and momentum helps you to succeed. When you’re struggling to get through a day or you’re overwhelmed by everything on your plate, it’s hard to really achieve success. You need to figure out how to prioritize yourself and your mental health, and then find a time management system that works well for you. Once you do that, the energy will follow.
Lesson #11: Your situation will affect you a lot
There’s a quote along the lines of, “When people spend a long time in dark and wet places, they become depressed and ill.” By this point, many of us are aware of the things that negatively impact mental health. However, we don’t always fix those things, and sometimes allow them to influence us more than necessary. From living in an apartment that doesn’t allow much light to spending too much time on the phone, figure out what you can and can’t control. Then make the possible changes to improve your situation.
Lesson #12: Know the gatekeepers
The gatekeepers are the ones who stand between you and what you want. There are two dimensions to this. The first is practical. If you understand who can make or break your dreams, you can make a plan. The second goes back to an earlier lesson: treat everyone well. If you treat the assistant, agent, or other people in the network well, you’re more likely to make a good impression and achieve your goals.
A Final Word
If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend The Art of War. It’s short, but it’s filled with so much wisdom beyond this brief overview. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in leadership of any kind, as it has so much that we can learn.
Have you read it? Let me know what you thought!
