Whether it’s your life or your livelihood on the line, it requires the same skills to survive.
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In July of 2003, I arrived in Iraq for my first tour of duty. Though death and increased sectarian violence soon became a part of our daily life, at the time, everything seemed routine. The next nine months would slowly reveal to us the new normal.
Each day we would juggle the mission with our desire for survival. Life waited for no one, and Murphy always reared his ugly head. We had to learn to survive the latest shit storm on the horizon.
Over the course of four combat tours in Iraq, I learned invaluable lessons on the battlefield and have found that those same lessons serve me well in life and business.
1. Shit always hits the fan.
People get sick, get killed, kill themselves, and give up. The enemy is constantly trying to kill you, spouses cheat, family members back home die, and all the while you have to survive. Your battle buddies need you to pull your weight. In business, even if you’re exhausted and frustrated your client or your boss still requires that proposal right away.
The first lesson in business is there is never a time when nothing will get in your way. You have to figure out how to work with the shit, because it’s going to be there.
2. Order exists because of chaos.
On the battlefield, life is chaotic. The enemy doesn’t ask you when an attack would be most convenient. Our communications systems did not consult with us before they went belly up. People don’t give notice when they’re killed in action.
The same is true in business and how we deal with these situations will determine our success. Procedures and processes exist to help us emerge successfully from unforeseen events.
3. It is never a convenient time.
We can bitch and complain all we want, but the fact is, shit happens when it happens. It will never occur when it is convenient or suitable for you. This is the reason we train our team members, share the corporate vision and empower them to act. Successfully weathering the next crisis is dependent upon their ability to make decisions, analyze results, and make adjustments in real time regardless of circumstances.
4. It’s not personal.
Effective communication is challenging under the best of circumstances. Imagine the incredible burden when your life or livelihood is on the line. When people are dying, the enemy is actively attacking, and people just aren’t getting it. The normal human emotion that emerges is anger. We believe we need to put someone in their place or snap them back to earth. Whether in business or on the battlefield a little grace goes a long way in these situations.
5. We’re all human.
No one is perfect. The most admired leaders make mistakes, and they will let you down. To assume otherwise is setting yourself up for disappointment. It is much healthier to focus on how we can learn and grow from these situations.
Business (whether on the battlefield or in the boardroom) is dynamic. Successful people adapt, learn, and grow.
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Photo: Flickr/The U.S. Army