Art Of War by Sun Tzu VS Niccolo Machiavelli Leadership Principles

Art Of War by Sun Tzu VS Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

If you are a CEO or a manager, and you have thousands of employees or even a few employees in your organization.

How would you lead the people in your organization? Let's look at the leadership principles of Sun Tzu, The Art Of War, and Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince.

Sun Tzu, who wrote The Art Of War book, was a Commander-in-chief in ancient China 2500 years ago. He led his generals, officers, and thousands of soldiers to battle and won every battle.

Niccolo Machiavelli was the author of the infamous political book, "The Prince"; he was a Florentine diplomat, author, philosopher, and historian who lived during the Italian Renaissance. Machiavelli is often called the father of modern political philosophy and political science.

Let's explore Sun Tzu's "Art of War" and Niccolò Machiavelli's "The Prince." You will notice similarities regarding the actions necessary to maintain leadership power and stability.

Niccolò Machiavelli, sain in his book "The Prince",

It is better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both.

To Machiavelli, ideally, if you can get your people to love you, do what you tell them and do not challenge your authority. If that is not possible, then it is better to be feared.

Machiavelli justified this by saying,

It is much safer to be feared than loved because ...love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.

He argues that, as a leader, being loved comes with the obligation to please people, which is challenging because people, by nature, are inherently hard to satisfy. However, using fear is a psychological tool that consistently proves effective.

As for Sun Tzu, here is what he said in his Art Of War treatise,

It is the business of the general to be calm and mysterious, upright and just, and thus maintain order.

Consider your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on to them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.

However, if you indulge your men but unable to make your authority felt; kind hearted but unable to enforce your command when there is disorder, then your soldiers are likened to spoilt children; they become useless.

Sun Tzu states that an effective leader always remains calm and mysterious while embodying honor and fairness to maintain order among their ranks.

Treating your men fairly and respectfully is crucial as it fosters loyalty and mutual respect.

An excessively generous and overly kind-hearted leadership style can lead to a decline in authority, potentially causing problems like a lack of discipline and disobedience within the team.

Human Nature:

Machiavelli posits that human beings are generally self-interested and unpredictable. While love can inspire loyalty, it is often contingent on circumstances and can easily change.

On the other hand, fear is more stable and can be a more reliable means of control.

Similar to Machiavelli, Sun Tzu believes that humans act out of self-interest.

Rather than relying on fear, Sun Tzu argues that incentives or rewards should motivate people toward obedience.

Power Dynamics:

Machiavelli believed that a ruler who is feared can maintain authority and deter challenges to his power. Fear can also prevent dissent and rebellion, as subjects are less likely to act against someone they perceive as strong and capable of enforcing consequences.

Sun Tzu believes that for a leader to be in authority, he must first earn the respect of his people. To sustain that power, the leader should remain mysterious, preventing others from plotting against him or sabotaging his efforts since they are unaware of his plans and strategies.

Maintenance of Power & Authority:

Machiavelli says that, ideally, a ruler should be both feared and loved. However, if they must choose, fear is the safer option. A ruler who is only loved might not earn respect or authority, making it easy for others to overthrow them.

While fear can be a strong tool, Machiavelli warns against being too cruel. A ruler should avoid causing hatred, as this can lead to rebellion. The goal is to instill a level of fear that maintains order without provoking unnecessary resentment.

Sun Tzu emphasizes the vital role of "reward and punishment" in maintaining power and authority.

He advocates for providing appropriate rewards or incentives to motivate people while avoiding a sense of entitlement, thereby fostering loyalty and integrity.

On the other hand, punishments must be administered thoughtfully and judiciously. This approach serves to enforce the laws and remind individuals of their responsibility to uphold them.

When people recognize the consequences of their actions, they are more likely to respect the legal framework in place. In this context, one might say, "Fear the law, but also cultivate respect and appreciation for the leader who upholds it."

Sun Tzu VS Machiavelli Leadership Style

Machiavelli

Machiavelli advises rulers to act like kind leaders in order to gain respect. He said rulers should recognize and reward talented people, actively encouraging those who excel in their jobs.

A ruler should honor those who work to improve the city or state through trade, agriculture, or other businesses.

A prince should avoid actions that hurt trade, such as stealing from subjects or imposing high taxes. Additionally, rulers should host shows and celebrations for the people.

While maintaining their dignity, a prince should pay attention to groups like guilds and families, showing them courtesy and generosity through their own behavior.

Sun Tzu

Similar to Sun Tzu, during the era of Confucian influence, a ruler or commander was expected to be a benevolent leader. For example, more rewards, and honors were given to those who contributed to the kingdom, particularly farmers and weavers. In contrast, those in the lowest class, such as slaves and merchants, received the least respect. Merchants, in particular, were viewed as parasites, profiting solely from their personal gains without contributing to the well-being of the kingdom.

Lessons from Machiavelli and Sun Tzu highlight that managing people is an evolving process that requires leaders to be adaptable. A leader must find the right balance between being benevolent and strict, understanding when to reward and when to punish. This ability is essential for effective leadership for maintaining one's position and keeping the kingdom in order and obedience.

Learn the Art Of War.