Steven Pressfield's "The Virtues of War", we read a compelling portrait of Alexander the Great, not merely as a military genius, but as a complex and multifaceted leader. While the backdrop is ancient warfare, the principles of leadership, strategy, and resilience depicted in the novel resonate deeply with the challenges and opportunities I have witnessed in today's business world. As I've reflected on Alexander's approach to leadership, I've found striking parallels to the skills and mindset required for success in building managed services practices and providing effective fractional CIO/IT Leadership services. It's not about conquering territories, but about conquering challenges, building strong teams, and delivering impactful results for our clients.
One of Alexander's defining traits was his strategic brilliance. He was a master of anticipating his enemies' moves, adapting his tactics on the fly, and seizing opportunities that others missed. This strategic agility is paramount in today's rapidly changing technological landscape. When developing IT roadmaps for clients as a fractional CIO, or when building a new managed services offering, the ability to analyze market trends, anticipate client needs, and adapt to unforeseen circumstances is crucial. Just as Alexander adapted his strategies on the battlefield, we must be willing to adjust our approaches and solutions to ensure we're delivering maximum value and achieving our clients’ objectives. This ability to pivot and adapt to changing conditions is essential for providing effective fractional services where each client presents a unique set of challenges.
Alexander's ability to inspire unwavering loyalty and motivate his troops to extraordinary feats is another key takeaway from "The Virtues of War." Building and leading high-performing teams is essential in any leadership role, and it's especially critical in the context of managed services. Whether managing an internal team or collaborating with client teams in a fractional capacity, the ability to communicate a clear vision, foster a collaborative environment, and motivate individuals to achieve common goals is paramount. Just as Alexander inspired his troops to fight for a shared purpose, we must inspire our teams to deliver exceptional service and build strong client relationships. This is even more important in a fractional role, as you are often integrating with existing teams and need to quickly build trust and rapport.
Beyond strategy and motivation, Alexander's success stemmed from his unwavering discipline and relentless focus on execution. A brilliant strategy is meaningless without the discipline to implement it effectively. This is equally true in the business world. Whether it's managing a complex IT project, delivering ongoing managed services, or providing strategic guidance as a fractional CIO, discipline, and execution are essential for achieving desired outcomes. In my experience, building a successful managed services practice requires meticulous planning, consistent execution, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Just as Alexander demanded the highest standards from his troops, we must demand excellence from ourselves and our teams to deliver impactful results for our clients.
Read, adapt, apply, teach, grow…these are all essential in today’s business climate. Reach out to me at todd@toddrthomsen.com if you would like to discuss leadership mentoring or coaching.