[April 1, 2020] I began this three-part series with a simple fact. To think like a strategic leader is hard. The problem is that most leaders have never tried to think strategically; those who have tried, failed. I could easily blame this failure on a lack of education or motivation but that would be misleading. Strategy can only develop through a focused, intelligent effort. My first article can be found here (see link).
To begin, I start with an example. During World War II, the allies had a two-part strategy to win the war against Japan. Our navies would pursue and destroy as much of the power Japanese Navy as possible. Concurrently, ground-based forces would island hop (by-passing many) to establish airbases. This strategy helped create secure supply bases and launching points for future attacks. In creating this strategy (developed over time), there was a steep learning curve that proved costly and deadly.1
The strategic lessons that follow are a number of the most important grand strategic lessons one should use. Numbers 1 and 2 can be found in the previous article. Here they are, in no particular order:
- Crush Your Enemy Totally. Sometimes in war or commerce, total annihilation is required. As part of the island campaign by the U.S. and its allies, the job of the U.S. Marines and other ground forces was to capture key islands. They charged into the gunfire of Japanese soldiers who put up a fierce resistance to hold their tiny islands. From those islands, waves of conventional bombers pounded the homeland of Japan to force surrender. Only after two atomic bombs were used to devastating effect, did Japan surrender unconditionally.
- Boost Morale. There is a well-known quote from French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte, “The moral is to the physical as three to one.” High morale is a force multiplier. Optimism and high morale multiply the effectiveness of everything else. Thus, is follows that the morale of a people, a soldier, statesman, or used-car salesman makes a positive difference in how they carry out their duties.
- Know your Enemy, Know Yourself. The ancient, famous Chinese General Sun Tzu once said that “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” Despite the well-known truth of Sun Tzu’s philosophical comment about war, we know that it rings true in everything we do. Leaders have big problems to solve and the most common failure is not knowing the capability of themselves or the enemy.
- Deal With Problems Early. Don’t wait for a better time to fix a problem, the best time is now. I once had a Platoon Sergeant who would tell his men that he wanted his equipment fixed ‘yesterday.’ He was saying that putting off problems until tomorrow is a failed methodology. The slave-turned-philosopher Publius Syrus had a maxim, “Rivers are easiest to cross at their source.” A great strategist doesn’t wait. They don’t put off until tomorrow what can be solved today.
The last part of this series will be published sometime this week.
————–
- The Battle of Okinawa, one of the greatest battles of the war began on this date, April 1, 1945 to bring the war to Japan.
Good article, Gen. Satterfield, thank you again for this series.
If you’ve been paying even modest attention to the news, you’ve undoubtedly seen a flurry of sensationalist headlines. People are gonna DIE. Ha Ha Ha. What nutjobs we have as media sycophants to the Marxists. Let’s see how they can lower their trustability even more.
Sensationalism sells. But I think its more. I see too many errors that benefit their leftist thinking. Only when they’re caught to they admit an ‘error’ and then only reluctantly. The error is, of course, “accidental.” But we all know that is not true. Their bias is so obvious even my 6 year old can see it.
enjoyed your article today, thank you gen. satterfield.
I have an example that we can all see. US Pres Trump has daily press briefings on the Coronavirus pandemic. He regularly talks about his strategy to defeat the virus’ impact. He talks education of what to do by individuals, medical workers, and other commercial and manufacturing organizations. The media keep asking tactical questions. The media has not shown their bias so much as they show extreme ignorance. A big difference in strategy versus tactics.
I think when others talk about media bias in this pandemic they mean that the media is trying their best to show the faults in the govt’s strategy and want to blame Trump for any failures at the tactical level. That is not just bias but shows their level of partisanship and leftist ideology. They are really neo-Marxists who want the West to fall.
I made a comment on yesterday’s article recommitting a strategy. Well, I’m not so sure I would call it a strategy, more like a method of ensuring you have a good strategy. Thanks for making me think.
Right, I’m not so sure these are really strategies or the model on which a strategy is built.
Yeah, I was thinking something like this too but I’m not so educated in strategy development so maybe he’s discussing strategy development instead of strategy itself.
Good point, ?
“Know your enemy and know yourself,” a Sun Tzu quote that is very well known and spot on for a strategy. Without it, you are doomed to fail over and over. I find that most failures are based on this particular strategy not being used properly.
Got that right, Willie. I find the same. We are reluctant, in particular, to get a good grip on our weaknesses. Not knowing them creates all sorts of problems for us. And, to make matters worse, our teachers and coaches growing up keep telling us that our weaknesses (when they even admit them) are unimportant. But that we are great no matter what.
This is one of the biggest failures of primary and secondary education today. No one is even talking about it.
This harks back to the lowering of academic standards. All part and parcel of a fundamental problem with formal education in America. Many can see it but there is nothing the average Joe and Jane can do about it except withdraw their kids from school and homeschool them.
Lowering standards is what the hyper-liberal mindset is all about. By lowering standards they believe they are being ‘fair.’ Of course, they aren’t but that is for another discussion.
Another great follow up from part 1. Thx.
Yep, Ed. Great to see you back in the leadership forum.
There are a number of us who are regulars at Gen. Satterfield’s forum on leadership. Some have been here the entire time and others are new. What I like about this forum is that the comments are really good (for the most part) and you get to try out an argument or line of thinking and get some quality feedback. Good leaders should not shy away from feedback and should encourage it. The more criticism you get, the stronger you become.
Very true, thanks Big Al for making this point. Some new folks may be reluctant to make a comment but it’s easy once you’ve posted one or two. You will see this is a great place to do so.