Force Multiplier. Use This Military Concept to 10x Your Career.
Discovering the Right Tools for Enhanced Impact and Efficiency
👋 Hey Friends,
Today, I want to share with you this cool idea that comes from the military but is really useful for anyone, especially in business or when leading a team.
It's called a "Force Multiplier."
In military, a force multiplier is something (anything) that gives soldiers a bigger advantage without needing more people.
For example, special forces often conduct operations at night, in the dark, using night vision goggles to see in the dark.
The “goggles” are the force multiplier because they help soldiers do something they couldn't do before.
Force Multipliers enable you to make an impact greater than your headcount.
Another example of a force multiplier is the coordinated use of ground, air, and sea assets to target a specific objective.
When an army, navy, and air force are working together against a specific target, that “strategy” is a force multiplier.
With a Force Multiplier in place, 1 + 1 + 1 ≠ 3 but 9
Now, how does this relate to you and me?
Well, in our work, a force multiplier can be anything that makes our effort significantly more effective.
Ever heard terms such as Leverage, Synergy, or 80/20?
They all refer to the same concept - Force Multiplier.
For an individual, it means you get more output out of a single hour worked than you otherwise would.
Like using a software program that saves you hours of work. That software is your night vision goggles in the office. It lets you do more in less time.
Don't we often ask ourselves how to achieve more without sacrificing work-life balance?
Well, the answer is to look for Force Multipliers that you can apply in your everyday work.
For example:
Good Reputation:
If you have a good reputation, people will listen to you and trust you faster. This trust is also a force multiplier. It's like an invisible tool that helps you achieve more.
Delegation:
Delegation isn’t just a role’s responsibility. It’s a skill that anybody can use as a Force Multiplier. By delegating tasks appropriately, you can multiply the amount of work that gets done.
Relationships:
Having strong, long-standing relationships, like those with your Manager’s Manager or other Executives, can give you a greater advantage over others.
Skills:
This is a no-brainer. Every new skill you learn is like adding a new tool to your toolbox. The more tools you have, the better you can handle your career progression.
Holistic/Big Picture View:
Being able to understand a business from a cross-functional perspective is also a Force Multiplier.
This is precisely the reason why CEOs hold the position of CEO.
A CEO is not necessarily better than the VP of Sales at selling products, nor are they better than the Chief Counsel at legal matters.
However, what sets the CEO apart is their ability to stitch all parts of a business, such as Research and Development, Marketing, Operations, Human Resources, and Finance, together to form a cohesive whole.
This perspective and skillset is rare and not possessed by many.
Luckily for you (Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Agile Coaches, Product Managers), this skill is a role requirement.
To sum up, there are many different ways to use force multipliers to help you help your career. There isn't just one best way that works for everyone in every situation.
What's important is to know “yourself” well.
Put some time into it.
Think carefully about which force multiplier suits you the best.
Then use them to your advantage.
Quote of the Week
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
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Here, I try to give you Career, Progress, and Self-Development insights as I learn them myself.
Wish you a successful career journey ahead.
Until next week 👋
“I share things I wish I knew in the starting years of my career in the corporate world."
Vibhor Chandel
Love it Vibhor.