Leadership and Winning the Battle in “Your Business Arena”
Sooner or later, all Marine Corps officers have to transition back to the civilian
world. For some, the change comes after a few short years, for others after 20 or more
years of service. We all make this transition with some apprehension. We leave an
organization committed to exacting professional standards and a way of life that demands
dedication and total commitment. All of us wonder if what we have learned in the
military will have any application as we confront new challenges in the civilian sector.
Some wonder whether the style of Marine leadership they mastered as officers
will be suited to leading in the business world. However, within a few months we
realized that the leadership experience and knowledge we accumulated in the Marine
Corps applied directly to the business environment, especially in the areas of planning
and decision-making. We realized that the battles we were waging with our competitors
in the business arena could be won by simply applying the same leadership principles and
planning models we used to mold our Marines into an unbeatable team.
Volumes have been written on the art of directing and influencing people. And,
the books on corporate strategic planning could fill the LA coliseum. Leadership is about
motivating people and getting them to do things that they thought were impossible. It’s
about bringing out the best in your employees in a competitive world where second place
doesn’t cut it. It’s about teambuilding and giving everyone a sense of purpose and pride
in your organization. Most importantly, it is about creating an environment where hard
work pays off and employees feel they are making a positive difference.
The United States Marine Corps is arguably the most proficient organization in
the world in training their young men and women to win on a battlefield, a battlefield
where intellect, an understanding of the enemy and planning skills spell success. The fact
is Marines pride themselves with a reputation they sum up with the phrase, “never have
so few done so much with so little.” Marines win because they “out plan” and out
maneuver their adversaries. It’s that simple!
So, what’s the big deal with this Marine leadership stuff? I thought Marines were
doers not planners. Don’t the Marines just charge up the hill and deliver justice to bad
guys? The fact is that today’s Marines fight on a battlefield that is filled with uncertainty,
not unlike the highly competitive business world that confronts all of us. Unless you
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understand the strengths and weaknesses of your enemy to engage him at a time and
place of your choosing, you will fail to achieve success. Market forces, like the enemy,
must be analyzed and defeated by a series of well planned actions designed to give your
company the competitive edge and win in your arena.
Today’s Marines are winning the battles in Iraq and Afghanistan by a
combination of superb small unit leadership and employing the principles of Maneuver
Warfare (MW). Terms like Commander’s Intent, Mission Type Orders, and Main Effort
fill the warfighting publications read by thousands of young officers and noncommissioned officers. The great thing about MW is that it can be directly applied in the
business world!
No matter the size or core competency of your business, MW’s guiding principles
can provide a pathway to reducing risk, to deal with uncertainty, to adapt to new market
forces and to bring out the best in your leaders. It provides a planning process that can
give you the competitive edge in an age where information and responsive decisionmaking can give your company the upper hand against your competition. Profits can be
achieved, goals realized, product lines diversified and markets captured by applying the
MW model.
If you are interested in learning more about how Marine leadership principles and
MW planning skills can be integrated into your business, give one of our G7 Consultants
a call today.
Global Command Corporation
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Willis, USMC (Ret) Sr.VP Email: jw@globalcommand.us
Col. Michael Sullivan, USMC (Ret) VP Email: ms@globalcommand.us
Phone: 800.376.8787
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