Most people who own or operate a business would agree that a business strategy usually resembles a military strategy. There is no doubt that there are several parallels between business and war. Books like the Art of War by Sun Tzu, a Chinese general, are proof of that because many business leaders used it to create a business strategy. Here we analyze how a battle strategy relates to business and give you some tips on making the most of it.
How
Business Resembles a War?
Believe it
or not, there are many common factors in a war and a business. For example, as
a business owner, you must be in a constant war with your competitors and gain
a better market share or more customers, or more revenue. You just must win, win,
and win again so that your business can flourish and keep moving in the right
direction. In a war, you acquire more territory, but in a business, you acquire
more customers or market share.
Here are
some powerful business lessons and life principles, followed by the military in
a war that you can use in your business.
Ø
Knowledge is Power
The more
knowledge you have about the business, the market, the industry, and your
competitors, the better it is for you. So, it would help if you always strived
to get more business data and enhance your personal and professional knowledge.
You can use this knowledge as a tool to defeat your competitors in the business
world.
Ø
Teamwork is Essential
In a war, the
troops are always united. So, for a business to succeed, the business team
members should always be united and should work in tandem towards a common
goal. As a business leader, you must lead by example and inspire your team.
Ø
Always be Flexible
Be it a business
or a war, you need to be flexible all the time. Things can change at any
moment, and your plan should adjust according to the situation. Don't be too
rigid about anything and not be too flexible. Instead, have a solid yet
flexible plan.
Ø
Have Allies
Whether in
a war or a business, you need to have allies. In a business sense, it means
that you must have a strong network of people who will help you to enhance your
business and beat the competition.
Ø
Keep Moving Forward
In a war,
soldiers never give up. They just keep going until they achieve all the goals.
Similarly, you need to ensure that you keep chasing new goals in a business. If
you have achieved one business goal, you should celebrate the success and swiftly
move on to the next.
Ø
Identify Obstacles
In a
business, you need to think like a military general. You should be able to
identify obstacles that might hinder your achievement of the goals and
eliminate them as soon as possible. Also, accept that mistakes will happen, and
you need to correct them instead of giving up.
Ø
Always Protect Your Assets
In a war,
soldiers always protect the dangerous equipment they have. Similarly,
businesses should strive to protect the information that makes them vulnerable,
like their clients' confidential information. It means investing in
cybersecurity tools and ensuring that sensitive data is always protected in the
modern world.
Ø
Get Involved at the Root Level
You might
have seen many military generals talking to a soldier in a war. Similarly, as a
business leader, you need to connect with all the employees. No, your people,
interact with them and think of their career paths. This will help boost
employee loyalty and help you get an edge over the competitors. Remember, a
general is nothing without his army. Similarly, your business is nothing
without your employees. So, you need to cherish them and make them feel valued
all the time.
Sources:
https://danlok.com/the-art-of-war-how-business-strategy-resembles-military-strategy/
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/business-adaptations-military-strategies-81562.html
https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/7-military-principles-you-should-apply-to-your-business-strategy