Military Lessons to Use in Business

Personal Note: I have admired the military since I was young. I vividly remember my father teaching me the types of ammunition before I even learned the alphabet. If I had not chosen this career path, I probably would have dedicated my life to joining the SAS.

Here are some of the military lessons you can use in your business :

1. Meet the Troops

Creating personal connections with team members is vital. In the military, leaders know their troops personally, which fosters trust and loyalty. Similarly, our leadership prioritizes regular interactions with the team. This approach has helped us understand their challenges and strengths, allowing us to build a cohesive and motivated workforce.

At Mapogos, we all know each other personally. Members are aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses and have naturally adapted their cooperative strategies to optimize their output.        

2. Make Decisions

Military leaders often operate under immense pressure and must make timely decisions with limited information. This principle of decisive action is crucial in business. Following the 70% rulemaking decisions when we have 70% of the information and 70% confidence—has enabled us to navigate market fluctuations effectively and seize opportunities swiftly. Typically the decisions are made through a voting system to improve rationality and our evaluative process ( Ray Dalio used a lot of these strategies at Bridgewater Associates ). However, if the decision is left entirely up to me in a high-pressure situation I like to use the following expression :

Decision Readiness (D) = 0.7 * (Available Information) + 0.7 * (Confidence Level)        

3. Mission First

The military's focus on mission over individual gain is a powerful leadership lesson. It encourages leaders to prioritize the collective goal. At Mapogos Capital, every project and investment strategy aligns with our overarching goals, ensuring that everyone works towards a common purpose. This alignment has driven our success fostered a culture of collective achievement and synchronised our ideology. We are consistently having to make decisions where the opportunity cost might have been the individual's gain. Our mission for the individual gain at Mapogos Capital is :

Equity Maximisation > Profit Maximisation         

4. Convey Strategic Intent

Military leaders make objectives clear but give their subordinates the freedom to execute them as they see fit. We clearly communicate our strategic goals and allow our teams to determine the best ways to achieve them. This approach has led to innovative solutions and a more dynamic, responsive organization. I entrust my team members to achieve the target in terms of quality and time. I have noticed that leaving enough freedom for them to execute the task themselves opens room for more creativity and I can see more nuance of their skills and personality put into the task.

The greatest people are self-managing – they don’t need to be managed. Once they know what to do, they’ll go figure out how to do it. What they need is a common vision. And that’s what leadership is: having a vision; being able to articulate that so the people around you can understand it; and getting a consensus on a common vision - Steve Jobs

5. Adaptability and Agility

The ability to adapt to changing circumstances is a hallmark of military leadership. This skill is increasingly valuable in the fast-paced business world. Emphasizing the importance of agility, we regularly review and adjust our strategies in response to clients' concerns and emerging opportunities. This flexibility has been crucial in maintaining our competitive edge and achieving sustained growth.

I like to have control over isolating interdependence within our operation if it's needed.        

6. Leveraging Diverse Experiences

Different branches of the military prepare leaders for various contexts, which can be valuable in business. Army officers excel in uncertain environments, while Navy officers are adept at managing complex systems. Leveraging the diverse experiences and skills of our leadership team to address different business challenges has enriched our strategic planning and operational execution. Diversity in our team is so prominent - we speak over 7 languages between us.

By integrating these military principles, our leadership framework has been strengthened, fostering a resilient and adaptive organizational culture. These lessons have not only enhanced our strategic capabilities but also empowered our teams to perform at their best.

Mapogos Capital offers the support to fine-tune your financial strategy, delivering tailored consultation services to refine cash flow management and ensure accurate forecasting.

Our Mission

Our mission is to combat financial illiteracy on a global scale and contribute to the betterment of our society. To fulfil this purpose we concentrate our efforts on the backbone of our economy - assisting business owners in making more informed and intelligent decisions.

For further inquiries: :

Email: [email protected]

Phone number: +44 (0) 2045112570

Website: mapogoscapital.co.uk

Linkedin : Mapogos Capital

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