Newsletter
Aug
15
"If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame. But, if orders are clear and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers" . Have you heard of this before? It comes from Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”. This was written roughly 500 years BC but it can be applied to business operations today.
"Show one, tell one what to do, let one do it, and furthermore praise one; if not, anyone won’t work well ". This is not as famous as the first one in the U.S., but this was the words of Yamamoto Isoroku, Japanese admiral.
"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity". How about this one? Do you know who said this? It was General George S. Patton.
Don’t you think it is interesting that China and Japanese generals treat people like objects and teach and communicate to them what and how to do things. But the Western general tells people what he wants to accomplish and lets his people come up with the way.