Thursday, March 6, 2025

“Effective strategy, and not just in times of war, must therefore always remain sensitive to the political context and essentially this means that the principle of proportionality should be observed.”
– M.L.R. Smith – King’s College London –

Clausewitz’s core insight about proportionality – aligning resources with objectives – remains crucial for today’s executives facing complex strategic decisions. Just as military leaders must understand the “temper of the population” before committing to action, effective business leaders must gauge stakeholder sentiment and ensure their strategic initiatives are proportional to desired outcomes. Failing to do so risks not only strategic failure but also backlash from the very people they lead. Learn more with the article The Occam’s Razor of Strategic Theory: The Relevance of Clausewitz for Political Conduct.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Be strong. Lead well.

Chad