Sun Tzu - The Use of The Office Gossip

Most people will say that its not honest to use spies in what we do. But I don't agree with this statement. Spies if used with integrity and honestly can be a great asset to an establishment. With spies you can know why the competitors is getting more business or what they are doing differently. Maybe their product or sales team is better, so then you can improve your product or team with this piece of info. That is why Sun Tzu has dedicated a chapter on the use of spies. Below is one of the verse "Knowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained from other men." Verse 6 Chapter 13. THE USE OF SPIES Even the office gossip is useful. The office gossip is what Sun Tzu refers to as "Doomed Spies". "It is owing to his information, again, that we can cause the doomed spy to carry false tidings to the enemy." Verse 23 Chapter 13. THE USE OF SPIES If you find out that you have a staff who likes to divulge information on what's going on, be close to him. Listen to what he is talking but don't add anything, just listen. Investigate the info and act upon it discreetly so as not to show who the informant is. Also becareful if the office gossip talks about others to you, he can talk about you to other people.