Wartime Leadership Lessons for Today's Business Leaders

Over the past few years, we have seen increased disruption across many industries, with workforce readjustments, shifts in strategy, technology acceleration and a relentless pursuit for greater cost-effectiveness.

This environment has created new challenges for both individuals and leaders alike, but especially for leaders who are seeking to provide a sense of stability in a world of constant change.

As a firm believer in history as our greatest teacher, I looked to the past for some inspiration on how to navigate these trying times.

What can corporate leaders learn from executives who served their country during wartime conflicts? Lessons from the experience of Walt Disney, Dwight Eisenhower, General George S. Patton.

A military approach as framework for tackling today's complex business challenges

Walt Disney, Dwight Eisenhower, General George S. Patton all learned a great deal about focus and commitment to mission and discipline within the military. They all had a strong sense of duty to serve, duty to others, duty to make a difference and willingness to sacrifice.

Walt Disney: puts his creative talent and ‘joie de vivre’ to use for the war mission

Walt Disney, an aspiring avid cartoonist, was also motivated to serve his country in World War I. In 1917, at the age of 16, he told his parents he'd be enlisting in the army. Too young to serve, he joined the Red Cross in Paris as an ambulance driver. He found purpose in chauffeuring military officers around the city for meetings. In this endeavor, he demonstrated a keen sense of fun and theater, adorning his green military car with cartoon characters, converting it into a moving beacon of American entrepreneurial spirit, while offering some fun amid a bleak war.

His mission: to bring happiness and joy to people. He recognized the motivational power of bringing joy, happiness and hope to people to enhance mission accomplishment. This commitment, along with his sense of duty and fun-loving nature, were already present on the streets of Paris back then...

It was during his time in war-torn Paris that Walt Disney honed his artistic talents and became the visionary entrepreneur who eventually created The Walt Disney Company, a group that would achieve worldwide success and popularity.

One of his quotes: “I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter. “

General Dwight D. Eisenhower: collaborative approach

As supreme commander of the Allied forces during World War II, General Eisenhower assembled a group of leaders from diverse backgrounds and formed a team of teams. He empowered his subordinates while providing clear strategic direction. He solicited the expertise of each team leader and was quick to praise and show appreciation for their contributions. Eisenhower made it his duty to be positive, cheerful, and upbeat. He knew that optimism, like pessimism, was contagious. With his collaborative yet decisive style, he succeeded in uniting his troops.

The rest is history: Eisenhower became president of the United States, using the skills he had acquired in the military to lead the nation.

One piece of invaluable advice: “Always try to associate yourself with and learn as much as you can from those who know more than you do, who do better than you, who see more clearly than you.”

General George S. Patton: decisive action and swift execution

Patton led the Third Army in a rapid and highly successful drive across France, organized the relief of besieged American troops in the Battle of the Bulge and, towards the end of the war, drove his army deep into Nazi Germany.

Charismatic, bold and confident, Patton had a huge ego and ambition to match. But he was a master at rallying his troops through inspirational and mobilizing speeches that conveyed his unwavering commitment to the mission and his frontline leadership. His actions on the battlefield were based on direct, first-hand knowledge of the situation on the ground, allowing him to make informed, swift and decisive moves.

A key management lesson from General Patton is the importance of “a good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week”, emphasizing decisive action and swift execution even when information is not fully complete, giving priority to speed and momentum, over excessive thinking and analysis paralysis.

My preferred quote: “Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”

Key lessons learned from military leadership

The principles of military leadership can provide valuable insights for commercial organizations, especially in these 4 key areas:

Clarity of mission

The military excels at defining a clear overarching purpose that provides direction while allowing for flexibility in execution.

The ability to focus relentlessly on core mission objectives - even in the face of setbacks, chaos or difficulties - is an essential mindset. Keeping teams aligned on key priorities while avoiding mission drift, greatly increases the chances of success.

Businesses can emulate this by ensuring that all their employees understand the common core objectives. This involves helping employees to see how their individual efforts are contributing to the success of the company's wider mission.

The recognition of each employee's unique role in achieving the common goal creates a sense of pride that encourages creativity, innovation and problem-solving. When employees feel valued and optimistic, they are more likely to think outside the box and find solutions to problems.

Decentralized decision-making

In fast-moving environments, the military empowers teams closest to the issues to make decisions rather than relying on centralized command and control.

This typically leads to higher performance standards and a stronger sense of ownership among team members.

These principles can increase agility in businesses facing disruption.

Building trust and cohesion

The military places great emphasis on building trust within teams through shared experiences, clear communication, and the commitment of leaders to their people.

In the workplace, fostering the development of authentic connections by providing opportunities for employees to bond over shared challenges and support each other helps strengthen relationships and boost morale and resilience.

Celebrating small wins and incremental progress can spark joy and helps sustain momentum.

Continuous learning and adaptation

Military leaders are trained to constantly assess the environment, identify what's working and what's not, and rapidly adapt tactics.

This mindset of continuous learning, development and improvement can benefit companies navigating uncertainty. Decisiveness is essential for commercial organizations, where timely responses to market changes or challenges are critical for success.

Final thoughts

These inspirational leaders were driven by a profoundly optimistic vision, fostering an authentic, grounded sense of hope, coupled with clearly defined, actionable strategies for overcoming any obstacles to realizing that vision.

Their philosophy, at once positive, upbeat and realistic, when communicated candidly, simply and regularly to troops and employees, is a powerful catalyst for mobilizing and sustaining people's commitment in times of stress.