LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD
COURSES
Leadership Principles from the Battlefield
We believe that every problem is a leadership problem.
Leadership becomes easier when you have the right knowledge, skills and tools.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE TRAINING:
On the battlefield, change is rapid, there is never enough information or resources, stress is high and decisions can have disastrous consequences. Whatever the situation, decisions still need to be made, and that’s what we teach – how to cope regardless of the environment. There is no desert in Estonia, there are no mountains in Estonia, and yet our elite units have fought in just such conditions. Regardless of the environment, there is one element that does not change – and that’s people. How to lead, build relationships and make a team work will always remain the same.
The ‘Leadership Principles from the Battlefield’ training course focuses on practical exercises that illustrate and help participants understand how to apply the principles they have learned to their work and daily lives. Our experience has shown that we learn best through practice.
We teach leadership principles from elite units, as well as those adapted for civilian enterprise. They work because they are simple and can be applied in any team.
Training duration: half day, full day, hybrid training
The training is structured in modules:
- Main presentation + questions and answers
- Ownership taking model: role play, case study and practical exercises
- Exercise on understanding your own ego
- 1:1 feedback model. Practical exercise and problem solving
- Leaders’ decision-making model. Introduction and implementation exercise
- Summary and Q&A
Half day– focuses more on how to use the tools and all activities take place in a classroom.
Full day – includes more practical team exercises. Participants’ leadership skills will be put to the test in a dynamic and time-constrained situation in the vicinity of the training site.
Keynote – a short presentation will provide an overview of the leadership framework and an understanding of how elite units are built and what makes them best of the best. No practical exercises.
Depending on the time and purpose you have in mind, and the outcome you want, we will be able to arrange a training option to suit you. This is not your typical classroom course. It reinforces key concepts through hands-on experience, using leadership principles to solve real problems.
It is also possible to undergo the training at:
- Online academy – self-study.
- Online via Zoom, if teams are unable to meet. (In our experience, online learning also works very well.)
- As part of a multiday event in combination with Combat Hike or FTX.
Leadership is not about having a title – it’s about tackling challenges in all aspects of your life.
We provide leadership programs for:
- C-level executives
- Mid-level managers
- Frontline team members
The focus is on effective leadership and team building. ALL team members need to understand that they are leaders in their own position and therefore need to learn how to lead.
All of our training is based on the principles used in battlefield leadership and elite operations units. We follow a 65% practice, 25% demonstration, 10% theory principle. You cannot prepare to go into combat by theory only, nor can you learn to lead by theory or by observation alone. Leadership is a practical skill that can best be learned by practicing it.
Fundamental rules, values, and principles we live by:
- We Start by Leading Ourselves: self-discipline and personal ownership are fundamental.
- Team Success Is the Ultimate Measure of Leadership: success or failure falls on the leader.
- Training Must Be Rigorous: tough training results in easier operations.
- Relationships Are Paramount: building trust and respect is essential for team unity.
- Practical Training Is Priority: realistic training scenarios are a must (even online!).
- Every Role is Vital: each person contributes to the success of the mission.
- Lead by Example: results speak louder than words.
- Hard Conversations and Feedback: hard conversations must be had, leaders also need feedback and it is mandatory.
- If the team fails, everyone fails.
- The Only Easy Day was Yesterday: every day starts fron zero.
Leadership Principles: The Foundation for Success
In any mission-oriented environment, be it a battlefield, corporate boardroom, or startup ecosystem, the ability to lead effectively is paramount. Leadership Principles serve as not just behavioral guidelines but as cornerstones that shape the culture, dynamics, and success rate of your team. These principles can be distilled into key mindsets and operational laws that form the blueprint for exceptional leadership and effective execution. The following “Mindset: The Inner Drive” and “The 4 Laws of Combat” are a roadmap to understanding the crucial frameworks and attitudes that govern a successful leadership.
- Extreme Ownership (EO): Whether you’re a commander or a rookie, ownership of your role is non-negotiable. If the mission fails, you have to take ownership.
- Default Aggressive: Problems won’t solve themselves. An aggressive stance to proactively address challenges is vital. However, aggression here is not about recklessness but about taking calculated, yet swift, actions.
- Innovate and Adapt:: The only constant is change. Leaders must have the ability to innovate and adapt, especially when the initial plan inevitably faces real-world challenges.
- Humility: No strategy is foolproof and no leader is infallible. Humility allows you to see beyond your immediate perspective, reassess situations, and adapt effectively.
- Discipline Equals Freedom: This is a lifelong journey. Discipline in small actions leads to freedom in higher operations. It also ensures that you don’t rest on yesterday’s laurels; every day is a new challenge.
These foundational mindsets are translated into actions through the Four Laws of Combat, practical guides for team operation and mission execution:
- Cover and Move: This is about teamwork and establishing good relationships within your team. The idea is that teams or sub-teams support one another, providing “cover” as others “move” to execute tasks.
- Simple: Clarity and simplicity are key. A plan is only as good as its level of understanding among the team. Everyone needs to understand where the team is headed.
- Prioritize and Execute: The battlefield and boardroom alike are environments of limited resources. Knowing what to do first and executing it efficiently is critical for success.
- Decentralized command: As missions unfold, centralized control becomes impractical. Empowering team members for decentralized problem-solving allows for multiple challenges to be tackled simultaneously, enabling the leader to allocate resources more effectively.
How will you benefit from the training?
Participants will gain in-depth experience of the use of principles of leadership and extreme ownership and how to apply them in real-life situations. The exercises are practical, immediately usable and suitable for managers of all levels and experience.
Participants leave the training with upgraded skills to:
- Make quick decisions based on limited information
- Implement decisions on the basis of substantive ones immediately
- Take ownership of problems and solutions
- Be considerate of the team and work together
- Communicate more effectively with managers, subordinates and colleagues
- Simplify the plan and increase efficiency
- Prioritise daily tasks and long-term strategies
- Encourage others to solve problems and LEAD
- Suppress their EGO to better support the task at hand
- Adapt to changing circumstances
- Make decisions in confusion and chaos
- Take ownership and solve problems at work and at home
What will be the effect after completing the course?
Good news:
You have the tools needed to be a great leader and team member. You also have practical experience of how to utilize these principles and what it takes to be Elite – the best of the best.
Bad news:
Now it is on you, and you need to get after it, because no one else can do it for you but yourself! And it is going to be a hard journey, but one that you have a say in it.
