Because war goes back to the start of human civilization, there are numerous stories of poor military decisions and disgraced leaders, ranging from the German invasion of Russia during World War II to the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

What management lessons can we learn from military leaders of the past?

 

Use Employees Effectively

Called the decisive battle in the First War of Scottish Independence, the Battle of Bannockburn took a turn on June 24, 1314 when King Edward II of England decided to position his army very close together.

The men were so crowded that they found it difficult to maneuver, and knew that falling over meant being trampled to death. Edward also kept his bowmen so far back from the battle that they were useless against the Scottish (pictured above with King Robert Bruce).

Not surprisingly, the battle did not go Edward’s way. He soon abandoned his forces, causing the leaderless English troops to panic and flee. Many met the unkind end of Scottish weaponry.

Using your own employees effectively starts by knowing their strengths. Creating openness in the workplace also allows leaders and experts to develop and be recognized organically. We can take another lesson from this example: give workers the time and space to do their work properly.

 

Understand the Technology

In 1472, the Lord of Cordes brought two cannons to The Siege of Beauvais. However, he only brought one cannon ball for each cannon, and ended up making a small hole in the town’s gate. The Lord also neglected to bring masons to make more cannon balls*. The walls of Beauvais were not breached and the siege failed.

Understanding business technology, like your ERP system, helps you figure out how it fits into your business and what it can do for you. A proper implementation plan prevents you from diving into new technology, like cloud computing, without the knowledge to use it correctly.

*Cannon ball shortages were an issue in many battles. During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army was so shorthanded for cannon balls that one officer offered a cash reward for the retrieval of enemy balls. Several soldiers tried to catch them.

 

Be Open to Employee Insight

A British war hero at the turn of the 18th century, Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell (pictured right) suffered an unfortunate end to his illustrious career.

A navigation mistake put his fleet of ships off course, prompting one of the seamen to approach the Admiral about the error. The Admiral had him hanged for mutiny.

Soon afterward, four of the fleet’s warships, including the one carrying the Admiral, hit the rocks off the Scilly Isles. They sank within minutes, and the Admiral lost his life, along with 1,300 men aboard the vessels.

Your employees have a view of the company you are not afforded. They can often spot gaps in technology and ways to make processes more efficient. That valuable insight is crucial when trying to improve your business. Even if it’s not good news.

 

Focus on Objectives

During the Texas Revolution, the Mexican forces arrived at a wide open prairie on their way north. In the middle of the prairie was a tiny, adobe-walled mission called The Alamo. Santa Anna, leader of the Mexican forces, chose to attack the tiny garrison instead of simply going around it. “Pride goeth before a fall,” anyone?

The famous Battle of the Alamo lasted 13 days, until the Mexican forces finally pulled off a victory. However, they had held themselves up long enough for the Texan Army to take a stronger position for the Battle of San Jacinto.

Santa Anna lost that subsequent battle in 18 minutes (ouch).

To succeed in achieving long-term business objectives, it’s important to focus on them as much as possible. Meetings, emergencies, and other distractions will always try to sap away the time we can spend on objectives. This is not necessarily a time management issue, as long as we put “first things first.”

 

Protect Business Plans

It’s a bad idea to leave sensitive information out for others to see. It’s an even worse idea when that sensitive information is your detailed battle plan, and you’re General Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Right before the Battle of Sharpsburg (or Antietam, pictured right) in September of 1862, Union General George McClellan was hot on Lee’s trail. That’s when two Union soldiers found a copy of Lee’s battle plan in an abandoned campsite.

Fortunately for Lee, McClellan waited 18 hours before choosing to use the information to alter his own battle plan. However, 23,000 Confederate soldiers still lost their lives in the crushing defeat at Sharpsburg.

When you’re moving toward closing a deal, you’ll probably share more and more information with the other party. Commitments from both sides will come in oral form, payments, timelines, or contracts. However, the other party is likely speaking with your competitors as well. That’s why it’s important to document when commitments are made and by whom (as well as who is involved). Make sure the information involved is private during negotiations, and even after the deal is closed.

Bonus lesson: Act on valuable knowledge when you can. Why wait for the business environment, or your competitors, to restructure the situation?

 

Sources:

http://listverse.com/2009/09/03/top-10-worst-military-decisions-in-history/
“Strange But True Military Facts” Steve Crawford. Metro Books: New York.