"Think Like The Enemy" To Know The Enemy: Sun Tzu Art of War

When we compete in climbing the corporate ladder, business or sports, always "know your enemy".

To know the enemy you must "think like the enemy".

First, you must identify throughly your competitor or "enemy". By overlooking who your enemy is, unknowingly your "unidentified enemy" may quietly compete against you and win.

As Sun Tzu, who is the greatest ancient Chinese military strategist who wrote the Art of War book said,

Know yourself and know your enemy and you will not worry the results of a hundred battles.

What do you mean think like the enemy?

In strategy and competition, the phrase "think like the enemy" involves understanding and anticipating the actions of those with whom we compete.

It involves deep insight into the mindset and thoughts of competitors, understanding their motivations, and predicting their strategies, all of which are essential for achieving success in any competitive environment.

Sun Tzu on "Know Your Enemy"

1. Understanding the enemy's intentions and plans:

To effectively think like the enemy, one must first comprehend their intentions and detailed plans. This concept is the core principle of Sun Tzu's teachings in "The Art of War."

Sun Tzu emphasized the importance of not only knowing your enemy but also being deeply aware of your allies. This awareness is critical for forming effective strategies and alliances.

Allies are individuals or groups that share a common goal and are willing to support one another in achieving it.

However, the enemy is characterized by their intentions to oppose or compete against you.

Here is Sun Tzu's quote that you should study,

We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors.

From this quote, we understand the need to understand the plans and intentions of those around us.

When Sun Tzu refers to being "acquainted with the designs of our neighbors," he is emphasizing the importance of gaining insight into the strategies and objectives of your so-called "neighbors" to know if they are our friend or enemy.

This knowledge enables us to discern who is supportive and who poses a threat.

By studying the intentions of others, we can categorize them as allies or enemies. If an individual or group is inclined to assist you in your ambitions, they are an ally.

However, if their intentions lean towards competition or conflict, they are your enemy.

This understanding is achieved through meticulous observation and analysis of their actions, communications, and motivations. It requires us to think deeply about not only what they say but also what they do, as well as the possible ulterior motives that may drive their behavior. That how you think like the enemy.

2. Knowing their strength and weakness:

Another critical aspect of thinking like the enemy is recognizing their strengths and weaknesses. The manner in which an enemy will attack or respond to a situation is based on their strengths and weaknesses.

For instance, if an enemy possesses significant resources or advanced technology, they may opt for aggressive tactics that leverage these advantages.

And if they are operating from a position of weakness, they might resort to more deceptive or guerrilla-style tactics, aiming to exploit any perceived vulnerabilities in your strategy.

Understanding these dynamics allows us to develop counter-strategies that can neutralize their strengths while exploiting their weaknesses.

3. Anticipating the enemy's moves:

The ability to anticipate the enemy's moves is like playing a game of chess, where each player must think several steps ahead to outmaneuver the other.

This foresight, as covered in Sun Tzu "Art of War", is referred to as "fore knowledge."

It involves not only understanding the enemy's current position but also predicting their future actions based on deep insight and knowledge gathered about the enemy's situation not seen on the surface.

To successfully anticipate an enemy's moves, one must engage in thorough analysis and scenario planning. This involves considering various potential actions the enemy might take in response to your own strategies and preparing contingencies for each possible outcome.

By knowing their likely moves before they happen, you can position yourself advantageously, ensuring that you are always one step ahead in your competition in career, business or even sports.

In conclusion, thinking like the enemy is a mindset and intelligence gathering that requires a deep understanding of the enemy or competitor intentions, strengths, weaknesses, and potential moves.

By applying the principles from Sun Tzu's "Art of War," one can strategize and adapt their strategy to the fast changes in competition. That is how you win by deeply "thinking like the enemy."