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Selecting Generals

Disciplines > Warfare > The Six Secret Teachings > 3. Selecting Generals

Teaching set  | Observed lessons | Discussion | See also

Teaching set

Martial Secret Teachings 3. (20)

Observed lessons

• Selecting generals is critically important.
• External appearance and internal character can be quite different.
• Beware of people who seem concerned about others but who are really concerned first for themselves, or who seem skilful but who are really incompetent.
• Do not pass by those who may seem severe and forbidding but who actually have good people skills.
• Also seek those who seem ineffective but who quietly get things done and are more successful than others.

Discussion

Selection is probably the most important process in any organization, yet is often done casually and badly. This is partly because recruiters often over-estimate their own ability to sum up people. We tend to think we are good at it, while we are actually very poor at guessing what people are like on the inside.

This lesson summarizes the two key errors: selecting those who are unsuitable and not selecting those who are suitable.

See also

Selection

Sawyer, R.D. (1993). The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China, Basic Books