#25 - Why introducing Mission Command into your team could 10x performance!
21 Aug 24
Mission Command involves devolving responsibility down to the lowest levels of command within Military organisations.
The commander's intent is shared with subordinates, who are told what to achieve and why, but are then left to decide how to achieve it.
Its application within a commercial context drives clear benefits which will make your Company extremely competitive.
It drives empowerment, ownership, freedom of manoeuvre, agility of response and ultimately tempo of operations.
However, certain preconditions must be understood if any implementation is going to be ultimately successful.
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#25 - Why introducing Mission Command into your team could 10x performance!
What?
Mission Command is a style of leadership that is practiced to great effect by the majority of NATO forces.
Essentially it involves devolving responsibility down to the lowest levels of command.
The commander's intent is shared with subordinates, who are told what to achieve and why, but are then left to decide how to achieve it.
Orders focus on providing intent, control measures, and objectives and allow for greater freedom of action by subordinate commanders.
Why?
This provides a greater degree of autonomy to those receiving the orders as long as the intended or desired outcome is outlined.
It drives innovation, ownership, engenders trust and creativity, fosters the development of judgement and accepts a level of risk-taking to accomplish the mission.
Junior leaders do not constantly have to defer to senior leaders for permission to proceed. This is particularly important as things do not often go to plan when conducting high-tempo military operations.
This allows opportunities to be exploited to maximum effect as they are presented.
It empowers those who deploy it and it has been credited with the consistently high levels of operational success attributed to Western Military formations.
How?
So how can this be transferred into the commercial sector?
Realistically it all hinges on the capability inherent within your team:
- What is the level of competence of each of your team members?
- What is the level of commitment of each of your team members?
- Is the level of trust between team members high?
- Is there a learning and self-correcting culture within the team?
- As the leader, how much latitude are you willing to give to your team members, particularly with regards to any risks involved?
- As the leader, are you able to clearly articulate desired outcomes along with any constraints that may be imposed?
- If team members do not achieve the desired outcome, perhaps due to an incorrect decision that they may have made, are you willing to back them and support them regardless? Remember that trust goes both ways!
Once the above has been fully understood, then work can be started to implement Mission Command.
The benefits in terms of empowerment, collective ownership and agility of response are clear within a business environment.
In Summary
I hope that you enjoyed reading this newsletter and that it has given you food for thought.
Mission Command is the prime method that the Armed Forces use to empower personnel at the lowest level possible.
It drives initiative, ownership and judgement and agility of response.
Implementation within a commercial environment may well be the most effective way to make your business extremely competitive.
Have a great week!
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