Leadership Three Meetings: Planning, Using Power, Managing People

Author: Shi Yuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: Leaders face complex and ever-changing situations, often encountering various difficult problems and challenging individuals. Any simple or mechanical solution may lead to outcomes that leaders do not wish to see and may harm themselves. Wise leaders plan carefully and strategize, keeping the situation firmly in their control, thus ensuring a smooth leadership path. This book summarizes the essence of leadership wisdom into "Three Skills": Planning, Using Power, and Managing People. Planning involves leaders having the wisdom to strategize and plan. Using Power means leaders should skillfully wield authority to open doors to success. Managing People implies leaders should employ advanced strategies to create a positive and productive work environment. It captures the key contradictions in leadership work. For leaders, it's not enough to learn but also to apply these skills effectively to support their work, elevate their leadership level, and achieve practical results. Be a leader who plans well, uses power wisely, and manages people effectively.
"Depriving of morale and attacking the heart" is a far-sighted and superior strategy.
The method the censor used to reclaim the seal from the educator was incredibly clever. The cleverness lay in never directly demanding it, because since he had prepared for it, forcing it without evidence would be futile. Instead, he employed the tactic of "depriving of morale and attacking the heart," making the educator comply obediently without any resistance.
The Art of War states: "Attacking the heart is superior to attacking cities; psychological warfare is superior to military warfare. Depriving of morale and attacking the heart has long been regarded as a far-sighted and superior strategy, playing a crucial role in addressing long-term considerations."
After the Chu-Han War, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, successively enfeoffed over 20 meritorious officials from his old friends and trusted associates. The officials who were not enfeoffed grew restless, endlessly arguing over their contributions, and every day, groups of them whispered among themselves in court. The foundation of the state was newly established, requiring stability and unity. Instability was not a sign of good fortune—how should this situation be handled?
Liu Bang sought advice from Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang suggested that Liu Bang enfeoff Yungchi, who had both old grievances with the emperor and numerous meritorious deeds, as a marquis to reassure the officials and stabilize public sentiment. Liu Bang accepted Zhang Liang's proposal, enfeoffing Yungchi as the Marquis of Shifang. He then urged the prime minister and censors to quickly calculate the merits and reward the generals. Seeing that Yungchi was enfeoffed, the generals were delighted, and the phenomenon of restlessness among officials ceased to be seen. With a small trick of "depriving of morale and attacking the heart," Zhang Liang not only corrected Liu Bang's flaw of favoritism and biased rewards but also effortlessly eased the conflicts, won over the people, and stabilized the situation.
This tactic of appeasing an enemy to solidify the loyalty of the majority has been admired by many politicians in later generations.
For leaders, the brilliance of "depriving of morale and attacking the heart" lies in the opponent's morale being diminished. Once their heart is "attacked," they become completely devoted and cease to complain. Therefore, it is a wise leadership strategy that ensures no future worries.