Sun Tzu probably liked to see the opposition fall victim to this leadership fault. His point in decrying delicate, thin-skinned leaders is not to be confused with a leader’s responsibility to have feelings. Being a robot or a tree or an iron curtain isn’t a successful leadership trait.
However, Tzu is highlighting how honor can be manipulated to trap the leader. Imagine a taunt: “Your army isn’t brave enough to cross this river to fight us!” Bravery is at the heart of the matter, and the sensitive leader, not wanting his pride to be punctured by inaction, loses half his army in the swift current.
It’s easy to insult the sensitive person into action, and therefore easy to trap them. It’s part of “hard sales” these days: You wouldn’t let the Jones family see you driving that car would you? You’re not so insensitive a parent that you won’t volunteer every weekend at the PTA fundraiser, right?
The thin-skinned leader is quickly put in a place of shame. Why? Mainly because this leader measures his or her value based upon what others say, think, and feel. They try to keep everyone happy because “judgements” are a source of fear. This is different from Sun Tzu’s second fault. Overly sensitive leaders will make too many actions for the sake of appearance, if not pandering.
Honor is an important characteristic – in leadership or not. But when ego, reputation, and personal feeling control the reigns of honor, it becomes a fault of leadership.
