Tuesday
Oct262010
Share strategic intent
Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 8:50AM
To know the Commander's intent and take independent decisions is the role of the lowest ranking officers in the Marine Corps. The art is to have everyone know that intent, it makes the mission understandable.
Photo by tibchris Flickr CC
Rye Barcott writes in blog of the Harvard Business Review about his experience in the field:
The capacity to interpret the Commander's intent and apply it to a chaotic situation is strongly needed in today's business world. More and more business models are being disrupted by new technology and innovative processes.
The law can be seen as society's instructions for acceptable behavior. Interestingly the legal system varies between countries. In some places it is the word of the law, in others it is the intent of the law. When using the latter system, the sheer amount of laws is greatly reduced, it is easier to manage the sheer logistics of publishing and withdrawal of conflicting law.
Businesses are like states in that they also give instructions on how to behave, I suggest that they are issued as dialogues with staff rather than lengthy and detailed texts.
I believe that more individuals would act according to leadership's intentions - if they had a chance. For that to happen, I suggest that managers explain the logic behind the business model and objectives. If presentations of next year's budget goes beyond a set of figures, if employees are asked to reflect on what behaviors, tools and knowledge they need to contribute, then it will be possible to act strategically on all organizational levels.
My conclusion is simply this: If management's intent is expressed as a set of figures, it is the perfect way to speak to the brain's neo-cortex but not to the decision making limbic system. In order to make the "commander's intent" actionable, a more complete picture must be painted - preferably by the lower ranks themselves.
Does this seem plausible to you? Did you know that military life is more than just obeying orders?
Photo by tibchris Flickr CCThe Strategic Corporal
Rye Barcott writes in blog of the Harvard Business Review about his experience in the field:
We were being trained to obey orders, but also to make them. We were being trained to think, to be teachers as well as students and soldiers. As young lieutenants, we learned that we needed to set the example, communicate the commander's intent, and then empower our corporals and sergeants to operate in places where they may not be able to ask, "What do I do next?"
To interpret intent
The capacity to interpret the Commander's intent and apply it to a chaotic situation is strongly needed in today's business world. More and more business models are being disrupted by new technology and innovative processes.
Avoiding judging by the letter of the Law
The law can be seen as society's instructions for acceptable behavior. Interestingly the legal system varies between countries. In some places it is the word of the law, in others it is the intent of the law. When using the latter system, the sheer amount of laws is greatly reduced, it is easier to manage the sheer logistics of publishing and withdrawal of conflicting law.
Businesses are like states in that they also give instructions on how to behave, I suggest that they are issued as dialogues with staff rather than lengthy and detailed texts.
Take individual action
I believe that more individuals would act according to leadership's intentions - if they had a chance. For that to happen, I suggest that managers explain the logic behind the business model and objectives. If presentations of next year's budget goes beyond a set of figures, if employees are asked to reflect on what behaviors, tools and knowledge they need to contribute, then it will be possible to act strategically on all organizational levels.
Making the intent understandable
My conclusion is simply this: If management's intent is expressed as a set of figures, it is the perfect way to speak to the brain's neo-cortex but not to the decision making limbic system. In order to make the "commander's intent" actionable, a more complete picture must be painted - preferably by the lower ranks themselves.
Does this seem plausible to you? Did you know that military life is more than just obeying orders?
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