Communication is one of the five factors essential to win in battle, war, business, or life

That was something I learnt early in my military academy education, which I later implemented in combat during war and translated into my corporate environment.

Communication is essential, and if there is no communication, a lack of communication, or misunderstanding, it is the responsibility of the LEADERS, not the employees or peers.

Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” contains invaluable advice for leaders and strategists, especially regarding how to interact with their troops – in your case with peers – employees.

He emphasises the need of being given explicit instructions and following them. Sun Tzu argues that if orders are unclear, it is the commander’s problem.

However, subordinates are at blame if they are given explicit instructions and still fail to carry them out. The ramifications of this idea for contemporary leadership are far-reaching, touching on areas as diverse as the workplace, the sports arena, the home, and even public policy.

The value of well-defined goals cannot be emphasised in the business world.

Leaders need to make sure their teams are on the same page by communicating their expectations in detail through regular team meetings, one-on-one chats, and digital channels.

When goals aren’t accomplished, leaders should check to see if their instructions were comprehensible before assigning blame. This method promotes an atmosphere of trust and open communication, two qualities vital to the success of any group.

In a similar vein, it is the leader responsibility to make sure his or her team fully grasps the game plan and methods. This usually entails plenty of time spent practising to the point where habits and methods become second nature, leaving less room for error in competition.

Reviewing past games is useful because it can reveal whether or whether a loss was the result of muddled tactics or poor execution, providing insight into where to focus improving efforts.

Sun Tzu’s teachings can also improve family interactions.

Conflicts can be greatly reduced if clear standards for tasks, responsibilities, and behaviour are established.

Having regular family meetings can help everyone in the family better appreciate their part in the whole.

When people don’t play by the rules, having an open conversation about what went wrong can help bring everyone closer together and improve future compliance.

The value of transparent discourse cannot be overstated in the realm of public policy and government. If governments want people to follow the rules, they should make those rules as clear as possible.

To do this successfully, it is common to employ various forms of media and online forums. When it’s obvious that people understand the rules and regulations, it’s time to put in place mechanisms to hold them to those rules and regulations.
Sun Tzu’s insights are more important than ever in today’s ever-evolving world.

By investing in leadership training that stresses the need of clear communication, modern leaders can greatly benefit from his ideas.

Leaders can use feedback mechanisms to learn whether subpar results were the result of ambiguous instructions or lax adherence, and then adjust and improve their methods accordingly.

Leaders in any field can benefit from internalising and using Sun Tzu’s concepts through building stronger, more cohesive, and more accountable teams.

This post was written by Mario Bekes