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The Annotated Art of War (Parts 7.23-26: Signs and Signals)

 

Disciplines > Warfare > The Annotated Art of War > Parts 7.23-26: Signs and Signals

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VII. Maneuvering

 

Sun Tzu said: Commentary
23. The Book of Army Management says: On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough: hence the institution of gongs and drums. Nor can ordinary objects be seen clearly enough: hence the institution of banners and flags. Communications has always been a problem. Historically, this has been done by runners and signals. Even today, if electronic communications fail then simpler fall-back methods must be employed.

In business, communication may pass through many channels. It is not enough to think that a simple email will suffice.

24. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused on one particular point. If you want many people to be able to understand a communication, it must be broadcast in a way that they can all sense and understand. Communication is what people understand, not what is transmitted.

Of course you also have to take into account the possibility of the enemy understanding and responding to your signals. This is why they are often sent in code.

Loud and visible communications are effective in business where there are many distractions. This method can be used for both employees and customers.

25. The host thus forming a single united body, is it impossible either for the brave to advance alone, or for the cowardly to retreat alone. This is the art of handling large masses of men. When people form a group, they act as a 'herd', along with the herd mentality that impels them to act in the same way as others around them.

Hence a large group can be moved by a small group within. This is how leadership can happen.

26. In night-fighting, then, make much use of signal-fires and drums, and in fighting by day, of flags and banners, as a means of influencing the ears and eyes of your army.

Use whatever communication is appropriate to the context. The bottom line is that whatever the situation, your troops must be able to hear and act on your orders.

 

 

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Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

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Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

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