Running head: WHICH YOU ADOPT THE PERSPECTIVE OF A FIERCE CRITIC, AND ONE

OF THE THINKERS/AUTHORS FROM UNIT 1 AND 2 1

Unit 3 Essay

Dulce A. Duran

South Texas College

WHICH YOU ADOPT THE PERSPECTIVE OF A FIERCE CRITIC, AND ONE OF THE
THINKERS/AUTHORS FROM UNIT 1 AND 2 2
Abstract

In a scenario that would be considered deeply challenging, as a future leader I would have to find

a way to solve the problem by implementing theories from two philosophers; Thomas Hobbes

and Sun Tzu. For instance, a problematic situation would be terminating an employee from his or

her job position due company producing insufficient funds and low income. The theory that was

acquired from a critic that seemed appropriate to prepare a solution, whether it be an issue or

creating an innovated idea. The fiercest critic that was acquired would of Sun Tzu’s theory and

perspective. Having to encounter obstacles in my position, I was forced to change my mentality

by using the characteristics that I had adopted from the rest of the crew at my previous

workplace. I should and will take them and implement these types of theories in my future

organization.
WHICH YOU ADOPT THE PERSPECTIVE OF A FIERCE CRITIC, AND ONE OF THE
THINKERS/AUTHORS FROM UNIT 1 AND 2 3
Thomas Hobbes strategical thinking

The viewpoint and concept of Thomas Hobbes would help a leader solve a problematic

issue like terminating a person from their job position. With the use of the strategical thinking of

this theory, the leader will make a conclusion on what person or employee is going to be

terminated. According to (Thomas Hobbes, n.d.) in the Leviathan, he states, “Feare of

oppression, disposeth a man to anticipate, or to seek ayd by society: for there is no other way by

which a man can secure his life and liberty” (Hobbes, n.d.). With the termination that the

company is enforcing the leaders or managers to do, there will be benefits for the company.

This theory will technically advise the leader to become emotionless and only decide

based on the work history and ethics of the employee. Basing off the decision on only facts of

how the employee’s history, this will keep all the personal actions and opinions out of the

leader’s verdict making. Implementing this type of mentality when making a verdict, then it can

be presumed since employee A did not have a professional work ethic, did not show respect to

the customers, etc., then employee A will be a candidate for being terminated. This theory will

become extremely helpful for myself since it is extremely difficult in keeping my emotions out

of any type of situation, but with use of this theory it will benefit my decision making and the

health of the business.

Sun Tzu’s logic

With the help of Tzu logical theory, a leader can create his or her mentality based on the leader’s

knowledge on the employee’s history. According to Sun Tzu, he states in his III. Attack by

Stratagem according to (Tzu, n.d.), “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not

fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory
WHICH YOU ADOPT THE PERSPECTIVE OF A FIERCE CRITIC, AND ONE OF THE
THINKERS/AUTHORS FROM UNIT 1 AND 2 4
gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will

succumb in every battle” (Tzu, n.d.). When making the inference of the decision on terminating

an employee, then it must be planned and pre-examined on the reason a person is being targeted

into being fired of his or her position. If there is no preparing before selecting a candidate for

termination, then the decision will not be a precise choice, nor it will be wise to confront an

employee that is a hard-working person without an answer why he or she is being terminated.

Even though, there is information and a history of how an employee has been in the company, as

a leader then it must be confirmed how my actions are involved in the decision making. If I am

not aware nor conscious of my actions, then I am not going to be successful in making a

conclusion based on my unfamiliarity with set actions.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu

The style and theory of Sun Tzu is the one I preferred to be applied within the workplace

and demonstrating it to the environment. This theory was chosen because it instructs the readers

on how to conquer and accept the characteristics that are to be demonstrated by the leader

because if it is not established the leader will not be respected and or be listened to. With the use

of this theory, it can change a person mentality and adopt a new ideology to create a work

environment that is able to achieve the set tasks. The business will not succeed if the crew is not

working together or one crew member is not following set rules. The work environment must be

running like how crew runs a ship, if one person does not do the set task then the ship can sink.

For example, as it is stated by (Tzu, n.d.), “14. By means of these seven considerations, I

can forecast victory or defeat” (Tzu, n.d.). In the previous text, the way this can be expressed in

the workplace is by the way an organization or business is being run by the leader and or

manager. For instance, when entering a fast food restaurant and the first thing that is being
WHICH YOU ADOPT THE PERSPECTIVE OF A FIERCE CRITIC, AND ONE OF THE
THINKERS/AUTHORS FROM UNIT 1 AND 2 5
analyzed is how the employees react to the customer and how clean the environment. If the

environment is looking unclean and the employees treat the customers without respect, then the

business will lose customers and even go out of business, but if a restaurant is treated the

complete opposite it will become much more successful. How the business looks are how the

manager is leading the crew. If the manager does not do not enforce theories or lets the

employees be aware of their tasks, then everyone on the business will be unorganized.

There are people that are not able to be in command, whether it be because they do not

want to cruel or demanding to his or her friends in the workplace, but in reality, a manager must

always command what needs to be done and if an employee is not following the set commands

then he or she must be let go

IV. Tactical Dispositions 4th theory

In the next theory that I have chosen can also influence the work environment to create

new innovated ideas. According to (Tzu, n.d.) it is stated, “4. Hence the saying: One may know

how to conquer without being able to do it” (Tzu, n.d.).

As a manager and or leader, he or she must always demonstrate that everything is under

control if not, the employees will feel insecure and panic at the first sign of weakness. When

showing dominance in the workplace it is let to know the rest of the employees and staff who is

in charge and who needs to be respected. Not implying that the manager or set leader is the only

one that should be respected, the whole crew members in the company should be respected too.

The leader is should be in a sense of being feared with respect because without having respect

from the employees the company will not be working efficiently as is should be.

With this fourth theory of Sun Tzu, it declares a lot of wisdom of how to represent

oneself in any type of organization. It makes a person in charge show his or her actions and
WHICH YOU ADOPT THE PERSPECTIVE OF A FIERCE CRITIC, AND ONE OF THE
THINKERS/AUTHORS FROM UNIT 1 AND 2 6
demonstrate everything the business is going as smoothly as it should be. As a person learning

new theories and such, this particular theory helps people improve and manipulate this theory not

only in the business environment but also in many areas. A person can become wiser and

become successful if he or she can mold this theory into using it in a job interview. With the use

of this theory in a job interview, it can be extremely helpful to the interviewee. With the use of

this theory by the interviewee, this applicant then becomes aware of how to represent himself or

herself in order to the job position.

For instance, the applicant can advertise of all the hard work he has accomplished in the

past and how he can improve and demonstrate for the company. many people become nervous,

but, if an applicant were to understand how to become self-aware of their potentials then they

would not have any problem demonstrating of their potential.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, all the theories from different wise people they all have different mentalities

and yet they all have the same concepts of being determined to become able to succeed in their

journey of life. The one that amazed me the most and inspired me was from Sun Tzu his theories

of how to win the war, battle, and the warriors, not literally but the concepts used to win such wars

can be introduced in the work environment too. I elaborated about the two theories that seemed

the most intriguing to me in a sense of how to develop a mentality to be able to control the obstacles

that may be created in the company. Knowing how to resolve the issues in the work place in order

to prevent any other issues from arising, by implementing these theories, they will most certainly

help in to create stress-free atmosphere and with having such an ambiance like such produce’s

tranquility for the employees and staff of the company. As there are positive outcomes there are
WHICH YOU ADOPT THE PERSPECTIVE OF A FIERCE CRITIC, AND ONE OF THE
THINKERS/AUTHORS FROM UNIT 1 AND 2 7
always going to be negative outcomes too. As a future leader, I must learn how to manage the

negative outcomes and turn them into positive.

WHICH YOU ADOPT THE PERSPECTIVE OF A FIERCE CRITIC, AND ONE OF THE
THINKERS/AUTHORS FROM UNIT 1 AND 2 8
References

Hobbes, T. (n.d.). Leviathan. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-

h.htm#link2HCH0011

Tzu, S., & Giles, L. (n.d.). The Art of Wars. Retrieved from

http://classics.mit.edu/Tzu/artwar.html

Five Leadership Theories and How to Apply Them. (n.d.). Retrieved from Benedictine

University: https://cvdl.ben.edu/blog/leadership_theories_part1/