The Strategist’s Playbook: Sun Tzu & The 3 Kingdoms

Why This Course MattersTwo thousand years ago, empires rose and fell not by luck, but by strategy.

Sun Tzu’s Art of War taught leaders how to win without unnecessary battles.

The Three Kingdoms showed us how vision, timing, and leadership turn the tide of history.

In today’s high-stakes business world, the battlefield has shifted — but the principles remain the same. Leaders still need to:

· Outthink stronger competitors.

· Win loyalty from their teams and clients.

· Turn limited resources into decisive advantages.

This is not just a history lesson.

This 1-day, high-impact program distills 2,500 years of proven strategic wisdom into a modern, action-ready leadership playbook — so you can outmaneuver rivals, seize opportunities, and lead with both vision and results.

Course Objective

Equip leaders and professionals with timeless strategic wisdom from Sun Tzu’s Art of War and The Three Kingdoms, showing how to win decisively, adapt swiftly, and lead with vision in a competitive world.

By the end of this course, you and your team will be able to:

· Build unstoppable unity by leading with purpose (Dao).

· Seize the right moment and avoid costly “victory traps” (Tian).

· Exploit your strategic position to outflank competitors (Di).

· Lead with both heart and discipline for lasting loyalty (Jiang).

· Install winning systems that endure beyond individual leaders (Fa).

What Makes This Course Unique

• 16 Years of Sun Tzu Expertise – Trainer has taught Art of War since 2009 and Three Kingdoms since 2020, author of Win Without Fighting with Sun Tzu Art of War.

• Storytelling that Grips and Teaches – From Red Cliff to Zhuge Liang’s masterstrokes, every story is a leadership lesson.

• Integrated Strategic Framework – Sun Tzu’s Five Elements to Win applied to real historical and corporate case studies.

• Immediate, Measurable Results – Participants leave with a customised Strategist’s Playbook ready to implement the next day.

Key Takeaways for Participants

1. Dao (Purpose): Unite your team behind a compelling mission.

2. Tian (Timing): Act at the right moment — and avoid victory traps.

3. Di (Position): Turn your current resources into unbeatable advantages.

4. Jiang (Leadership): Lead with both heart and results.

5. Fa (Systems): Build processes that ensure lasting success.

Who Should Attend

• Senior executives and managers seeking sharper strategic thinking

• Business owners and entrepreneurs in competitive industries

• Leaders who want to inspire loyalty, outmaneuver rivals, and achieve sustainable success

Delivery Format

• Duration: 1 Day (customizable for 2-day deep dive)

• Methods: Interactive storytelling, strategic simulations, case studies, practical exercises

• Outcome: Participants walk away with a personalised Strategist’s Playbook ready to implement

Testimonials:

"I closed a deal I’d been chasing for months — by applying the ‘Win Without Fighting’ principle the very next week."— Senior Sales Manager, Logistics Industry

"The Red Cliff case study was a game-changer. I now see when to press forward and when to hold back, which saved my team from a costly mistake."— Regional Operations Director, FMCG

"Andy’s storytelling is so vivid, you feel you’re right there with Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. More importantly, he showed us exactly how to use these strategies in our own business battles."— CEO, Technology Solutions Firm

"Before this course, I thought strategy was just for top management. Now, I see how I can apply it daily — in negotiations, team management, and client relations."— HR Business Partner, Banking Sector

"This is the only training I’ve attended where I left with a personal, step-by-step playbook. It’s like having Zhuge Liang in my pocket."— Business Owner, Engineering Consultancy

Course Outline

Framework: Sun Tzu’s Five Elements to Win

Dao (道) – Tian (天) – Di (地) – Jiang (将) – Fa (法)

1. Dao (道) – Purpose & Alignment

“When the people are one with their leaders, they will stand with them unto death.” – Sun Tzu

Key Stories & Lessons

· Who Holds the True Dao?Dong Zhuo vs. Cao Cao: the legitimacy of the Han Dynasty’s moral mandate.

· The Dao of Liu Bei: Restoring the ancient value system and winning hearts.

· Zhuge Liang’s Dao: Serving the greater good beyond personal ambition.

Modern Takeaways:

· How to unify your team under a clear purpose.

· The danger of losing moral authority in leadership.

· Balancing personal ambition with organisational mission.

2. Tian (天) – Climate, Timing, Opportunity, and Cycles

“He who understands the Universe knows when to fight and when not to fight.” – Sun Tzu

Key Stories & Lessons

· Liu Bei’s Greatest Loss: Why he failed despite having three of the era’s strongest warriors.

· Red Cliff’s Double-Edged Victory: How Cao Cao’s overreach turned triumph into disaster.

· The Paradox of Liu Shan: How a weak emperor ruled for 41 years.

Modern Takeaways:

· Recognising the right time to act — or hold back.

· Avoiding the “victory trap” that leads to downfall.

· Leveraging timing even when resources are limited.

3. Di (地) – Ground, Support, Position, and Resources

“He who knows the ground gains advantage.” – Sun Tzu

Key Stories & Lessons

· Wu’s Strategic Terrain Advantage: Zhou Yu’s mastery of defensive positioning.

· The Fall of Yuan Shao: How the largest territory failed without strategic focus.

Modern Takeaways:

· Making the most of your strategic position.

· Why having more resources doesn’t guarantee victory.

· How to spot and exploit your competitors’ positional weaknesses.

4. Jiang (将) – Leadership and Capability

“The Commander must be wise, trustworthy, benevolent, courageous, and disciplined.” – Sun Tzu

Key Stories & Lessons

· Warrior Leadership Styles: Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Zhao Yun compared.

· Leading by Heart: Liu Bei’s empathy-driven leadership.

· Cao Cao’s Ruthless Drive: The brilliance and self-destruction of a results-obsessed leader.

· Liu Bei’s Final Downfall: How emotional decisions can undo decades of work.

· Zhuge Liang’s Transformation Playbook: Turning Liu Bei from fugitive to emperor in 14 years.

Modern Takeaways:

· Matching leadership style to organisational needs.

· Balancing heart-led and results-driven leadership.

· Turning underdogs into champions through strategic mentorship.

5. Fa (法) – Systems, Processes, and Discipline

“Order and organisation are the foundation of victory.” – Sun Tzu

Key Stories & Lessons

· Zhuge Liang’s Dual Mastery: Military genius and administrative excellence.

· The Beauty That Toppled a Kingdom: How personal weakness can destroy systems.

· The Sima Family’s Long Game: Strategies that led to 300 years of dominance — and darkness.

Modern Takeaways:

· Building systems that outlast individual leaders.

· Recognising and eliminating systemic weaknesses.

· Playing the long game without losing organisational integrity.

6. The Secret to Win Without Fighting: The Liu Bei Way

· How Xu Shu helped Liu Bei, even when he was away

· Yijing cycles to win without fighting: Moral compass

· Recap of the top 12 points and your most important point

Modern Takeaways:

· Build your 8 Points of Culture to win without fighting

Organizing your Sun Tzu Playbook