Some Observations on the Art of War and Communicating
Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” has been studied for over two thousand years as a treatise on strategy and tactics for war, and more recently, for business. Even the introduction of the text, where a biography of Sun Zu is given, it is interesting note the text’s relationship to organizational communication.
In the introduction, a story related to an interaction between Ho Lu, the King of Wu, and Sun Tzu, who was basically being “interviewed” by the king with regard to Sun Tzu’s war management theories. In this story, a group of 180 women from the palace were being used to form a fighting unit (the king probably was certain this could not be achieved).
The story itself involves the giving and receiving of orders, and the seriousness of this type of communication. From Sun Tzu’s point of view, this was so important it was a life and death issue. In the story, he even ordered the deaths of the first women responsible for giving the orders because they failed to get their message across.
While this is certainly gruesome from today’s perspective, Sun Tzu’s observations are valid. In this account, he gives three really strong statements:
- “If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame.”
- “But if his orders ARE clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers;”
- “The King is only fond of words, and cannot translate them into deeds.”
Each of these is critical for working with communication in any organization: The leadership has to KNOW what they are about, and know what they want to have happen and speak it clearly. All too often, there is indecision, if not in thought, at least in presentation. If the vision or instruction isn’t clear, the response can’t be either. However, if the leadership is certain things have been communicated clearly, and problems still arise, it is often because of how lower level management communicates messages to their subordinates. The lower level management has to know that their messages are absolutely necessary to the functioning of the organization. Failure at this level is as critical as failure to communicate at the top.
Finally, the top level people of an organization have to do as they say; their communication can’t just mean it must promote desired action. Failure on the part of the top level to be responsible for and insure their communication is carried out for the sake of meeting organizational goals is a serious matter.
Communication is critical. At Bards Consulting, we believe that EVERY individual at every level of an organization helps to bring about success when they become better communicators. Sun Tzu would have agreed (but we accomplish it with no loss of life!).
