Inspiration & Motivation Blog

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“The greatness of a leader will determine achievement of success. The weakness of a leader will drag his followers into defeat.”

A leader takes a very vital role in winning a war. That’s shy in the book: “13 war strategies of Sun Tzu”, the figure of leader is the central point. The great capability of a leader will determine the success achieved. On the contrary, the weakness of a leader will take his followers into defeat. This war strategy of Sun Tzu is already more than 2500 years old but up to this moment it is still relevant in discussing the role of leaders.

In the first edition of “EXTRAORDINARY” magazine, I talked about 5 principles of leadership of Sun Tzu style. But now, I am going to talk about the opposite. It is discussed in chapter 8 about 9 variant which describes 5 weakness of a leader, surely this will be useful as a means to evaluate and appraise the quality of our leaders. Let us now look into the 5 weaknesses of leaders of Sun Tzu style.

1. A Reckless Leader Might Get Killed

In a war, courage is one power a leader must have. But, courage with no consideration comes with considerable risks of falling into defeat. Courage is not just a determination covered with recklessness. A leader who manages to go to war with no concept nor strategy is doomed to disastrous recklessness.

2. A Cowardly Leader Might Get Captured

A leader having a pretty soul laden with worries and fears will always hesitate in making decisions. If he keeps this attitude in any of his action, enemy would easily anticipate his moves. So in any opportunity he would fall into enemy’s hands.

3. A Temperamental Leader Might Easily Be Provoked

Anger will only sink a person to the “grave” of his ego which then easily plunge him into troubles. Emotional or temperamental attitude of a leader will fully expose him to provocation. This will eventually lead him into acting recklessly and fooling himself so a temperamental leader could very likely fall trapped into some “mud-hole” ready to ruin him.

4. A Megalomaniac Leader Might Easily Fall Victim To Slander

If a leader is too anxious to defend his honour and to glorify his status and position, it might make him an easy target of slander. Such a leader, especially in pursuing higher title, might tend to act recklessly to achieve his ambition. In such condition he might be accused of selfishly promoting himself while reglecting the true essence of his struggle.

5. A Submissive Leader Might Be Disappointed

Compassion is a noble character that must be firmly retained. Nevertheless a leader who is too easy to show compassion could just be disappointed. An excessively unconsidered compassion for his people will just cause troubles. Any policy decided only after much judgement is likely to waste so much time as to miss any good chance coming along at the time.

These five weaknesses of leadership of Sun Tzu style is highly relevant to today’s business condition. These weaknesses are commonly found everywhere. For example: price competition. A newly emerging communication gadget producer went straight to shake the market aggressively. Their advertising campaigns appreared everywhere. They even date “to challenge” rival products already having mature established market. But this brave action was not supported by a well-planned stocks and after sales service. So while the aggressive advertising campaigns did attract many customers, the stocks were not there to meet the demand. So such reckless courage eventually proved futile.

For another example we may see how goes the competition among big brands in retail business. As soon as one product comes out with aggressive promotion, its competitors, feeling threatened, will follow suit, even in wildly excessive style. The fund poured for promotion expenses is consequently just to appease emotional drive. The sooner one rival brand launches its new product, the sooner its rival product are extensively distributed in the market, even with no proper plan, as it is merely “to react” to the challenge its rival imposes. If business is run on such emotional judgement, it will only inflict “a war” that will exhaustingly consume up a lot of money and energy. Unconsciously they neglect the interest of consumers which should indeed be the main focus at the first place.

The two examples are just simple illustration of what we can see everyday. In truth, the essence of these five weakness of leadership can further be applied more in our lives at any field. Expectantly it would evoke our caution to keep improving and evaluating our efforts. So let us study and adopt this lesson of Sun Tzu as a “warning” to prevent us from getting trapped in attitudes that could weaken us. Aside from that, we must keep developing our leadership attitude based on mental value to achieve victory.

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Photo by mbanas7

“Can I see my baby?” the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears. Time proved that the baby’s hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was marred.

When he rushed home from school one day and flung himself into his mother’s arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be a succession of heartbreaks.

He blurted out the tragedy. “A boy, a big boy … called me a freak.”

He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. “But you might mingle with other young people,” his mother reproved him, but felt a kindness in her heart.

The boy’s father had a session with the family physician. Could nothing be done? “I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears, if they could be procured,” the doctor decided.

Whereupon the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by.

Then, “You are going to the hospital, Son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it’s a secret,” said the father. The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged. His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became a series of triumphs. Later he married and entered the diplomatic service. “But I must know!” He urged his father, “Who gave so much for me? I
could never do enough for him.” “I do not believe you could,” said the father, “but the agreement was that you are not to know … not yet.”

The years kept their profound secret, but the day did come … one of the darkest days that a son must endure. He stood with his father over his mother’s casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal that the mother — had no outer ears.

“Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut,” he whispered gently, “and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?” Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart.

Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, but what that cannot be seen.

Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what that is done but not known.

from author unknown

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