Mini strategy series @soerenbax: The #ThirtySixStratagems, a collection of ancient Chinese military thought and experience.
Characters of the Twelfth of Thirty-Six Stratagems: 顺手牵羊 (順手牽羊) – Shùnshǒuqiānyáng. 顺, shùn: along, smooth. 手, shǒu: hand. 牵, qiān: pull, lead along. 羊, yáng: sheep.
Meaning: Hide the attack in an unthreatening motion.
Business example: This stratagem is about seizing opportunities when the competitor is not paying attention to the threat. One cooperation may be focussing in one direction and the competitor is stealing something, they are not paying attention to.
Tag Archives: Stratagem
Ninth of #ThirtySixStratagems: Watch the fire on the other side of the river. 隔岸观火 (隔岸觀火) – Gé’ànguānhuǒ.
Mini strategy series @soerenbax: The #ThirtySixStratagems, a collection of ancient Chinese military thought and experience.
Characters of the ninth of Thirty-Six Stratagems: 隔岸观火 (隔岸觀火) – Gé’ànguānhuǒ. 隔, gé: Partition, apart. 岸, àn: shore. 观, guān: look, observe. 火, huǒ: fire.
Meaning: Watch the fire on the other side of the river. Watch the internal or external conflicts of the opponent from the sidelines and refrain from interfering. Let the trouble continue until your opponent is weakened and you have a better opportunity to gain the upper hand.
Business example: In business and war it can be advisable to wait an see, it is a powerful choice to be patient and wait for a better opportunity to act.
Fourth of #ThirtySixStratagems: Await the exhausted enemy. 以逸待劳(以逸待勞) – Yǐyìdàiláo.
Mini strategy series @soerenbax: The #ThirtySixStratagems, a collection of ancient Chinese military thought and experience.
Characters of the fourth of Thirty-Six Stratagems: 以逸待劳(以逸待勞) – Yǐyìdàiláo. 以, Yǐ: by, with. 逸, yì: relaxed. 待, dài: treat, deal with. 劳, láo: fatigue.
Meaning: Make sure to be well rested and relaxed when awaiting the hungry, tired and weakened opponent.
Business example: Choose a tactic that keeps your team relaxed, rested and well fed, but the opponent’s team exhausted, short in resources and disoriented. In business, a local supplier may give the visitors from afar a hard time, by not picking them up from the airport, choosing a noisy hotel or a meeting room without air-conditioning. Make it tough for them to keep focused on a long negotiation.
Key to use this strategy in business is be to predict the future battleground and prepare for conflict under these new conditions. Set up position and wait for the competitor to approach.
In combat it would mean to stay out of your attackers range and make them expend energy on useless actions.
Second of #ThirtySixStratagems: Besiege Wei to save Zhao 围魏救赵 (圍魏救趙) – Wéiwèijiùzhào.
Mini strategy series @soerenbax: The #ThirtySixStratagems, a collection of ancient Chinese military thought and experience.
Characters of the second of Thirty-Six Stratagems: 围魏救赵 (圍魏救趙) – Wéiwèijiùzhào. 围, wéi: surround, enclose. 魏, wèi: Wei (family name). 救, jiù: save, rescue, help. 赵, zhào: Zhao (family name).
Meaning: Besiege Wei to save Zhao. Your friend and ally may besiege the home base of your opponent after his forces left to attack you. Thus finding and attacking the weak and exposed flank of your attacker. The opponent will fight on two fronts, which increases the chance of victory.
Business example: When a strong group (aggressor) is about to take over a weaker group (defender), then a third party may gain a good reputation by attacking the aggressor in apparent behalf of the defender. The third party may succeed to eventually take over both parties without the nasty side effects of outright aggression.