COLLABORATION – AN ANCIENT STRATEGY

Since antiquity, deploying efforts to win over adversities and challenges has been a human concern. These strategies have come under many guises; from ancient wars to defend our territories and survival, to current business approaches to win market share and create wealth and prosperity. When considering challenges that we face today, whether personal or in business, we can learn a lot by listening to our ancestors.

In the fifth century BC the influential Sun Tzu, Chinese general and army strategist, told us that we must not focus on whether the enemy may come or not, but instead focus on building our readiness to face him. In order to win, we must not debate on the chance of being attacked but make our position unassailable.

Therefore, in the face of the current uncertainties, we should take measures to protect and preserve what we have and invest further to become stronger. Business should make sure that the continuity plans are in place and up to date, and clearly understand the areas in our businesses that call for readiness. Spinning out scenarios based on pertinent and accurate facts whilst incorporating a range of ‘what if’ options to allow tactical changes to the high-level strategy, will help adapt to changing situations and environments we may face.

Around two hundred years after Sun Tzu, Alexander of Macedon, who went on to be known as Alexander the Great, started forging his empire. He was taught by the best tutor and mentor of the day, none other than Aristotle.

Aristotle trained Alexander in the Socratic method of questioning; instructing him to seek facts and analyse them properly. Likewise, we need to consider what key facts are required about the current environment so we can prepare for readiness.

There is always someone who can impart wisdom and experience to us; the challenges that we face today have, in one form or another, been around for millennia and it is important to learn from the experiences and knowledge of those we respect. An excellent way to do this is to find a good mentor you trust, and who has faced those challenges before. Experience is key.

What are actions without morality?

Aristotle encouraged Alexander, and by extension his soldiers, to consider the moral implications of their decisions. Without a moral direction, he suggested, their actions would lack conviction. Review your values and let them drive your decisions when creating the future of your business, especially when confusion prevails. Knowing what you won’t do and why, is as important as knowing what you will do. Unleash your values to act as your guide.

Although conquering is all well and good, most strategists will tell you that you get more flies with honey than with vinegar and many empires have been founded on cooperation and marriage, rather than war. While a conqueror, Alexander the Great also created alliances, in order to resource his evergrowing empire, and none of his occupied territories ever rebelled against him.

In periods of uncertainty, it is even more important to feel cohesive as a business, so whatever may come from around the corner, it is not going to weaken your core. How can you become unassailable? What alliances can you create to spur your growth, especially in international markets, which is going to be key in our post-Brexit environment?

Whatever is around the corner will come our way for sure, so let’s not waste time on thinking whether it is coming or not.

Success is not based on what changes or challenges we face, but on how we react to them, and how prepared we are. Learning from the great ancient strategists, it is not about what will come our way, but how we react to it, and how ready we will be. We must be aware of the nature of the risks that our businesses face and have a strategy to mitigate those. In doing so, let us consolidate and continue to invest in growth. This strategic energy will create a future where we achieve our goals and therefore control and achieve our desired certainties, rather than keeping focused on uncertainties we cannot control. Invest now in building your businesses, don’t retrench and wait.

Christiane Hutchinson, BITA Manchester Chairperson and CEO of Biramis Management