The Enemy Gets a Vote:  Leadership Lessons

[June 5, 2020]  I’ve been in the military long enough to have a good understanding of the concept the enemy gets a vote.  It doesn’t take experience, the study of battles, or deep thinking to gain a better understanding of it.    ‘The enemy gets a vote’ phrase intimates that our competitors are human beings with emotions, thoughts, needs, and swayed by cultural influences.  As such, the enemy is unpredictable.

I wish that I had a nickel for every time I said the enemy gets a vote.  The idea behind the phrase is that our ability to predict any action of the enemy is flawed.  It is always possible that the enemy might do something we have not considered.  At the core of any planner, this understanding should be foremost in their minds.

Metaphorically, the enemy gets a vote means the obvious but also masks a deeper problem.  We often utter the phrase to cover our inadequate planning and defective foresight of the future.  As such, it acts to inhibit critical thinking.  That must not happen; else, we begin to walk a path of failure.

Here is the real problem.  Un-provable military phrases such as ‘the enemy gets a vote’ become a tagline to halt any genuine inquiry toward how our organization goes about its decision-making efforts.  Of course, a good commander will not tolerate an echo chamber of thinking in their unit.  Such is the case outside the military as well.

“My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence.” – General Bernard Montgomery, WWII British Field Marshall

Great companies are in a state of change, always inward-looking (at decision processes) but also outward focused (on what the enemy/competitor is doing).  It is no wonder that leadership is not science but something else altogether.

Leadership is character.  And character means being able to weather the storm because anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.  Only a true leader with character can influence others through a vision and rallying people around a clear, meaningful goal.  The real leader can stand alone if need be, the courage to make hard decisions, and the compassion to listen.

Leadership is about getting others to do things they would not ordinarily do, and do it because they want to.

Author: Douglas R. Satterfield

Hello. I provide one article every day. My writings are influenced by great thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Jung, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Jean Piaget, Erich Neumann, and Jordan Peterson, whose insight and brilliance have gotten millions worldwide to think about improving ourselves. Thank you for reading my blog.

19 thoughts on “The Enemy Gets a Vote:  Leadership Lessons

  1. Georgie M.

    ‘The enemy gets a vote.’ Loved the quote. Has much practical usage when considering your plans for the future. Nothing is fully predictable so, as I always say, ‘Have a back up plan.’

    Reply
  2. Deplorable John

    I’ve been pretty busy lately helping develop plans at a number of small cities near where I live to help them if rioting were to occur. The message of these city officials is clear, they want to protect their citizens and will not tolerate destruction like seen elsewhere. Good for them.

    Reply
    1. Wesley Brown

      Good for you John. Rioting and looting will not spread to most of our smaller cities and towns because these folks have to live with their decisions. They are not holed-up in their mansions like in NYC, Chicago, Detroit, LA, and son on.

      Reply
      1. Bryan Lee

        I’m convinced you are right. Had a long talk with friends over the past few days who live outside cities and they are armed and ready to “disperse” any rioters that come near their towns. I’m told they will shoot the first looter. That should deter the rest.

        Reply
      2. Army Vet

        Right and the rest of us have the time to contemplate what we would do if put in such a situation. Take a long hard look at your homes and businesses. Make plans to act within the law but also protect your community and property. Kick butt if need be. Whack a few heads together of the Antifa and other professional rioters. You will be surprised how quickly they fold.

        Reply
        1. Martin Shiell

          Hi AV. Good to hear from you, as always! I’m one of your fans and always look forward to reading more about what you think is happening in the world.

          Reply
  3. Otto Z. Zuckermann

    “Leadership is not science.” Spot on comment, Gen. Satterfield.

    Reply
    1. Walter H.

      And leadership has been around since before “science” emerged as a way of thinking. So, this is the way it will always be, not scientific.

      Reply
    2. Dead Pool Guy

      Leadership is hard to do but easy to “see” with your eyes. When leadership works, things go smoothly. When leadership fails, just look with your eyes and you will see chaos. Just look at the recent riots.

      Reply
  4. Valkerie

    Great article again, General Satterfield. Thanks! Good to read something positive.

    Reply
  5. Army Captain

    Being in the US Army for many years now, I can say with certitude that they teach this lesson over and over. No one is fully predictable and for a variety of reasons: emotions, needs, desires, etc. Pay close attention to people’s actions, not so much their words. This is how a leader can get as close as possible to why the enemy gets a vote.

    Reply
    1. José Luis Rodriguez

      Hey Army Capt, haven’t heard from you in a while. Hope all is okay. Are you guys helping put down the riots? Bad things happening in Detroit and Minneapolis (no shocker), Houston, NYC, etc.

      Reply
  6. Max Foster

    Yes, and if we are to take a closer look at the ongoing riots in major cities across the US, we will see that the actions of the looters and rioters are doing exactly as they always do BUT our city leaders are with them and against us. That is what is unexpected. The city leaders are the enemy.

    Reply
    1. Watson Bell

      Good point Max. But what is the goal (the end result) that city leaders are looking for? I don’t get it. They are supposed to protect their citizens but their actions do not support what I see happening. Little is being done to do that and little is done to direct and support the police.

      Reply
      1. Randy Goodman

        It should be no shock to your Len that big city mayors now are almost all “progressives”. That means they are all in for what they see as the “oppressed” and “underrepresented” people in the city. But that is simply a misdirection. They are out for themselves, virtue signaling, and gaining power.

        Reply
      2. Doc Blackshear

        Big cities are a real problem. Glad I don’t live in one. CRAZY!!!!

        Reply
  7. Greg Heyman

    This always happens. Unexpected action by others.

    Reply

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