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How do you believe your experiences in the military have prepared you for the challenges of the "urban battlefield" of business?

Military Lessons for Business Success: Winning Mindset, Adaptability, and Rehearsals

I absolutely do believe that my experiences in the military helped prepare me to fight on this urban battlefield called business. And first and foremost, I think it's because it is just that. Business is battle. And by that, I mean, we've got to win. Victory is number one. Coming in second is unacceptable. I mean, you think back of all the wars that's ever been fought in the history of the world, you know, the people that come in second, you know, didn't get spoils of war. So shaping people's mindset that we got to win, it's all or nothing is tremendously valuable. And you learn that, I think, or I learned that certainly in the military. Second thing I think directly applicable is this thing called Murphy's Law. And knowing that Murphy rides shotgun with us every day and no plan ever survives the first bullet on the battlefield, getting used to that and thinking on your feet and understanding that it's going to go sideways. Something is not going to go as planned. Makes you comfortable in an uncomfortable environment. And that's an advantage than a lot of people I found out here that weren't in the military don't possess. And third, I think the understanding that we make money with rehearsals. We rehearse everything we're going to do, all of our actions before we leave the wire in combat. We rehearse before we go out the door here to do any presentation, make a pitch, whatever it is we're doing, we want to be excellent. Excellence is what wins. Excellent is top of the heap, tip of the spear, the main effort on the battlefield. So there's a lot of things. If you do some history, you'll see that I think the leaders of the teams that were successful in battle have very similar traits to the leaders and teams that are successful in business.

My experiences in the military have prepared me to fight on the urban battlefield of business. I learned that victory is paramount and coming in second is unacceptable. I also learned to expect Murphy's Law, think on my feet and be comfortable in uncomfortable situations. Finally, I understand that preparation and excellence are key to success in both battle and business.

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My experiences in the military have undoubtedly prepared me for the challenges of the urban battlefield of business. Firstly, I believe that business is akin to a battle, where winning is paramount and coming in second is unacceptable. This mindset of striving for victory and understanding the importance of winning is something I learned in the military.

Another valuable lesson from my military experience is the concept of Murphy's Law. I've come to understand that things often go awry and plans rarely survive intact. Being comfortable in an unpredictable and ever-changing environment is an advantage that many non-military individuals may not possess.

Additionally, the military taught me the significance of rehearsals. Before any combat mission, we would meticulously rehearse our actions. This emphasis on preparation and striving for excellence translates directly to the business world. Rehearsing presentations, pitches, and other important tasks allows us to perform at our best and achieve success.

If you delve into history, you'll notice that successful leaders and teams in battle often share similar traits with those who thrive in the business world. These experiences in the military have equipped me with valuable skills and perspectives that have proven beneficial in navigating the challenges of the business battlefield.

How did your leadership experience in Somalia shape your perspective on conflict and teamwork?

Leadership in Conflict: Teamwork's Essential Role

For me, in 1993, on October 3rd, the experience as a leader on the streets of Mogadishu either validated or discredited everything I'd known about leadership and teamwork up until that point because I had nowhere to test it until we got to the battlefield. And what I learned from that was leadership sometimes gets a little overused in the idea of like who wins the battles, who wins the wars, oh the leaders do it. Clearly, they have a role, but teamwork is essential and I know this sounds patronizing, but I validated on October 3rd that my role as leader also was as important as being a team member and a good teammate on the battlefield because, listen, things are going to happen that I have no control of as a leader and more importantly, as a leader, I don't have the ability to offer a solution to a problem. My teammates have to do that and they can only do that if they've been shaped and trained and taught that prior to going to the battle. So you learn this on all the days and weeks and months and years prior to being tested. Building a team is important and building that team means that everybody's got to have a voice. They need to know when to talk and when to shut up, but you as a leader need to make sure that they're not just nodding their heads and saying yes, but they are welcomed to give their expert advice or else bad things are going to happen on the battlefield.

My experience leading on the streets of Mogadishu in 1993 validated everything I knew about leadership and teamwork. It taught me that my role as a leader was just as important as being a team member, and that building a strong team means everyone has a voice and should be given the opportunity to contribute their expertise.

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My leadership experience in Somalia, particularly on October 3rd, 1993, profoundly shaped my perspective on conflict and teamwork. It was a moment that either validated or discredited everything I had known about leadership and teamwork up until that point.

What I learned was that while leadership plays a role in winning battles and wars, teamwork is absolutely essential. On that day, I realized that my role as a leader was just as important as being a team member and a good teammate on the battlefield. There are situations where I have no control as a leader, and there are problems for which I don't have the solutions. It is my teammates who must step up and offer their expertise to solve those problems. However, this can only happen if they have been properly shaped, trained, and taught prior to entering the battlefield.

The importance of teamwork and building a cohesive team became evident to me through the days, weeks, months, and years leading up to that moment. It is crucial that everyone in the team has a voice and knows when to speak up and when to listen. As a leader, it is my responsibility to ensure that team members feel comfortable offering their expert advice and insights. Merely nodding and saying yes is not enough; active participation and contribution are necessary to prevent negative outcomes on the battlefield.

Matt Eversmann answers your Military questions. See all the advice Matt Eversmann has and get answers to your own Military questions.

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First Sergeant Matt Eversmann is an American hero who embodies the importance of duty, courage, and selfless service in extraordinary circumstances. In 1993, Matt led a raid against an enemy militia in Mogadishu, Somalia. His inspiring story of survival was depicted in the film Black Hawk Down. For his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star. After his service, Matt drew from his military experience to teach the next generation of warriors. He worked at the Army War College, taught at Johns Hopkins University, and deployed to Iraq during The Surge. Matt has since used his experiences to show organizations how to build resilient teams. He has consulted in healthcare, non-profit, and data management. Matt recently returned from Afghanistan where he filmed a documentary for PBS. He has co-authored The Battle of Mogadishu and two New York Times bestsellers with James Patterson. Matt and his wife, Tori, run a consulting company and co-host a weekly podcast, The Veterans Nation.