Want to Lead? Learn from the Master, Kung Ming: Assests & Liabilities, Codes & Rules

The Five Assets and Eight Liabilities of a Leader

Five Assets:

1- He possesses a majestic air and ability to motivate others.

2- He respects his elders and is benevolent to his brothers.

3 He is faithful and loyal to his friends.

4- He is tolerant towards the masses.

5. He is diligent in the execution of his duties to accomplish his objectives.

Eight Liabilities:

1. He is unable to judge right from wrong.

2. He does not employ proficient individuals.

3. He does not strictly execute the laws.

4. He does not perform charitable works for the needy.

5. He is unable to project the future outcome.

6. He is unable to prevent the leaking of top secret information.

7. He does not or is unable to recommend deserving individuals for appropriate promotion.

8. He is unable to take full responsibility for his defeat.

Fifteen Codes of Leadership

1- Understand the importance of espionage.

2- Be diligent in obtaining the enemy's information.

3- Be fearless when facing superior enemy forces.

4. Be not tempted by bribes.

5. Display absolute fairness.

6. Show endurance.

7. Exhibit big-heartedness.

8. Be trustworthy.

9. Respect competent individuals.

10. Do not allow personal judgement of people to be affected by others' criticism and gossip.

11. Be truthful and sincere.

12. Show benevolence to the troops.

13. Be loyal and faithful.

14. Understand personal limitations.

15. "Know thyself and thy enemy."

The Four Fundamental Rules of Leadership

1. Be very clear that your troops know your expectations of them. Make sure they understand what is expected of them when you ask them to march, and what is expected of them when you ask them to retreat, and what constitutes disobeying an order.

2 Guide them with benevolence and virtue, and they will adapt the concept of proper conduct.

3. Promote competency and inspire the capable, thus motivating the troops to their peak performance.

4. Be faithful to your standards of punishments and decorations. Let your troops know that you mean what you say. Establish the trust that your word is golden.

(Taken from Kung Ming's Mastering the Art of War; qtd by Chin_Ming Chu in Thick Face, Black Heart)

Kung Ming (Kong Ming, Zhu Geliang, or Zhuge Liang) is known as the "Hidden Dragon" or "Crouching Dragon" because adversaries always underestimated his skill. Kung Ming is one of the most exalted generals in Chinese history because of his brilliance in strategy. He was also an inventor and scholar, and his name is practically synonymous with wisdom. He lived during the Three Kingdoms era in China (from 190 to 280 approximately). Kung Ming is credited with writing several military strategy books including The Way of the General, which is based on Taoist principles. Many of the same theories that comprise modern Fung Shui, Kung Ming applied to military strategy, achieving great victory. (Britanica)

Some books popularly attributed to Zhuge Liang can be found today, for example the Thirty-Six Stratagems, and Mastering the Art of War (not to be confused with Sun Tzu's The Art of War) are two that are generally available. Supposedly, his mastery of infantry and cavalry formation tactics based upon the Taoist I-Ching were unrivaled. (Wikipedia)