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Battle friction and uncertainty with simplicity and individual initiative

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  • Richard Martin
  • October 8, 2013
  • 3:47 pm
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Richard Martin

Richard Martin empowers leaders to outmaneuver uncertainty and drive change through strategic insight and transformative thinking.
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In the army, we always tried to keep our plans and their execution as simple as possible. There are two main reasons for this. First, the friction and uncertainty of any undertaking is directly proportional to the complexity of its implementation. The more complexity and complication, the greater the likelihood that something will go wrong or be misunderstood by those who must put the plan into action. Second, it is impossible to foresee all eventualities and potential scenarios. This is why everyone involved needs to understand the mission and objectives, as well as the overarching plan, so they can reinterpret it and exercise their initiative in the face of changing circumstances and evolving threats and opportunities. Mission command and decentralized decision-making in implementation provide the managerial and leadership framework to encourage and leverage individual initiative toward the attainment of organizational objectives.

Food for Thought
Are your plans and operations simple or complicated? Would they lead to greater or lesser potential for friction? Do you have processes and procedures in place to reduce or mitigate friction? Can your followers exercise their initiative within the overarching framework of your plans and systems?

Richard Martin is a consultant, speaker, and executive coach. He brings his military and business leadership and management experience to bear for executives and organizations seeking to exploit change, maximize opportunity, and minimize risk.

© 2013 Richard Martin. Reproduction and quotes are permitted with proper attribution.


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Richard Martin, President of Alcera Consulting Inc.

Richard Martin

Richard Martin is the President of Alcera Consulting Inc., a strategic advisory firm collaborating with top-level leaders to provide strategic insight, navigate uncertainty, and drive transformative change, ensuring market dominance and excellence in public governance. He is the author of Brilliant Manoeuvres: How to Use Military Wisdom to Win Business Battles and the creator of the blog ExploitingChange.com. Richard is also the developer of Strategic Epistemology, a groundbreaking theory that focuses on winning the battle for minds in a world of conflict by dismantling opposing worldviews and ideologies through strategic narrative and archetypal awareness.

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