Battle Procedure for Business
In military operations, the Advance to Contact is when a force moves forward deliberately, expecting to encounter the enemy. The goal is to seize initiative, develop the situation, and position forces for advantage. In business, this parallels to entering a new market, launching a new product, or engaging a competitor when details are uncertain.
The Sixteen Steps of Battle Procedure
The 16 Steps of Military Battle Procedure provide a structured framework for planning and executing military operations. These steps emphasize clarity, preparation, adaptability, and leadership - all of which directly apply to the business world. Let’s break it down:
1. Receive the Mission - Identify the Business Objective
In business, this is when you receive a new project, initiative, or goal from leadership or stakeholders. Understanding the intent and scope is crucial.
2. Issue a Warning Order (Wng O) - Prepare & Align the Team
Leaders should communicate early with their team about upcoming changes, expectations, and key deadlines to ensure preparation and readiness.
3. Make a Tentative Plan - Develop an Initial Strategy
Assess risks, resources, and possible courses of action. This could involve market research, feasibility studies, or competitor analysis.
4. Start Necessary Movement - Initiate Preliminary Actions
Before execution, businesses may start hiring talent, gathering resources, or developing prototypes to set conditions for success.
5. Reconnoiter - Conduct Market & Competitive Analysis
Before committing, leaders gather intelligence - whether through customer research, industry trends, or competitor analysis - to refine their approach.
6. Complete the Plan - Finalize Strategy & Tactics
Using gathered insights, finalize the business plan, financial models, operational strategy, and contingencies.
7. Issue the Complete Order (Op O) - Communicate the Full Plan
Clearly communicate the who, what, when, where, and how to the team, ensuring everyone understands their role.
8. Supervise and Refine - Monitor Execution & Adjust as Needed
Execution is not static - leaders should track performance, collect feedback, and adjust the strategy as necessary.
9. Rehearsals - Test & Refine Processes
Conduct pilot projects, role-playing scenarios, or pre-launch testing to identify weaknesses and improve execution.
10. Final Inspection - Conduct a Readiness Check
Before launching a product, campaign, or initiative, final reviews, audits, and quality checks should be conducted.
11. Move to Position of Departure - Set Up for Launch
Ensure everything is in place - whether it is launching a new product, entering a new market, or executing a strategy.
12. Deploy - Execute the Plan
Cross the Start Line. This is the official go-live phase, where the strategy is implemented. Leaders must be prepared to respond to challenges in real time.
13. Fight the Battle - Navigate Execution Challenges
Just like in battle, business operations rarely go as planned. Leaders must adapt, troubleshoot, and make rapid decisions.
14. Exploit Success → Leverage Momentum
When something works, double down on it, whether it’s a successful marketing campaign, product launch, or operational improvement.
15. Consolidate & Reorganize - Optimize & Improve
After success, focus on process refinement, scaling, and solidifying gains to ensure long-term stability.
16. Continue the Mission - Maintain Growth & Expansion
Successful businesses don’t stop; they look for new opportunities, markets, and innovations to sustain momentum.
Final Thoughts
Just as military battle procedure ensures mission success in combat, it provides a structured, adaptable approach for business leaders to plan, execute, and sustain success. Whether you are launching a startup, leading a strategic initiative, or managing a crisis, these principles can ensure clarity, coordination, and resilience.
Of course, like anything else, facility takes practice. It is not instantly conferred. The Good News is that the Military knows this and that people cannot keep everything they have ever learned available for instant recall. For that reason, they have developed Aide Memoires and proformas that every leader from a Section Commander on up carries with them, on their person, in a pocketable, easy-to-refer-to format, to jog their memory; particularly, when the situation is fraught, chaotic, and rapidly unfolding.
Does it work? A well-trained and well organized force should be able to launch, from the line of March, a combat team attack in 30 minutes; 60 minutes for a battle group. To get this speed in action, all commanders must be well forward. Their appreciations must be brief and fast, and no time can be lost in the passage of information or orders. The battle must be characterized by boldness, surprise, initiative, and speed. It must be conducted with audacity and vigor.
To begin learning how to use the Military Approach, let us start with "The Apprecfiation of the Situation" - Aim, Factors, Courses, Plan - the basic building block of the Military system. Understanding that is the starting point of your journey to Business Success by Advance to Contact Leadership. Click on the link below for a free guide and worksheets. It will take time to develop facility with it, but with practice, you too will be able to do a "Combat Appreciation" concisely, fast,.and on point.
Subscribe now.
Sign up for our email list to get notification of new blog posts, and details of upcoming cohorts of The Advance to Contact Course straight to your inbox before everyone else.
Created with © systeme.io • Privacy policy • Terms of service