Business lessons from ‘300’
March 12, 2007 | 12:00am
Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.  General Norman Schwarzkopf
Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there. - John Kotter
Beyond business schools or business textbooks, we can derive so many priceless lessons from the annals of history and the lives of great leaders.
Warner Brothers has fabulously recreated in the exciting film 300 the heroism of the 300 Spartan warriors led by King Leonidas in the epic Battle of Thermopylae against the million-strong Persian hordes of King Xerxes. This visually stunning, well-written, entertaining and action-packed film was based on the popular graphic novel by Frank Miller. I recommend this movie to everyone, except for kids.
A small but dedicated elite warrior force led by King Leonidas of Sparta fight for three days at the strategic pass of Thermopylae in the central part of modern-day Greece, effectively slowing down the massive Persian armies. However, a local person named Ephialtes betrays the Spartans by leading the invaders behind the defenders’ position through a mountain path. Leonidas leads a courageous last stand, which saves the Greek city-states from Persian domination and inspires their victorious resistance.
Here are seven lessons business people, entrepreneurs and other professionals can learn from the movie 300 and the timeless saga of the Battle of Thermopylae.
1. Training: The 300 Spartans are not amateurs or slaves or civilian volunteers conscripted to fight a war; they are elite soldiers physically, intellectually, psychologically and morally trained with rigorous discipline for many years to be real warriors. The film shows how Spartan warriors are pre-selected as babies, then physically and mentally trained as kids and as youngsters to be full-time professional soldiers.
In business or other vocations, training, discipline, focus and dedication can make the decisive difference between winners and losers.
2. Use The Best Equipment: Before Leonidas brought his warriors to battle, his small army brought with them adequate and well-designed weapons like long spears, strong shields and superior armor. Even the choice and design of uniforms, helmets and attire are not left to chance but are of the highest quality. Whether venturing into a new business or undertaking other endeavors, it is important to assemble the sufficient and right kind of resources.
3. Maximize Terrain: Despite the overwhelming number and logistical superiority of the Persian hordes, the 300 Spartans are able to hold their ground partly because they maximized the strategic advantage of the narrow pass of Thermopylae, which was easily defensible and nearly impregnable. This situation is similar to the US military forces and Filipino soldiers who withdrew to Bataan and Corregidor, abandoning Manila as an open city to the firepower of the Japanese during World War II.
In business, politics or other wars, it is crucial to survey and understand the terrain where battles are fought. How are the real market conditions, the topography, the history, the weather patterns and other factors, which can affect protagonists?
4. Strategy Is Key To Victory: The inspiring courage of the 300 Spartans illustrates that strategy is important to outsmart, outflank and outdo one’s competitors in any battle. One of the strategies of King Leonidas was to use a relay of fresh troops to smash the invading hordes nonstop, once starting with a wall of Persian warrior corpses to shock the invaders.
In business and political wars, superior strategies are often more important than superior resources and manpower.
5. Loyalty And Team Unity Are Crucial: Every Spartan warrior is the epitome of utmost loyalty. In defending Thermopylae pass, the coordinated teamwork of the Spartans is indispensable in preserving their position and flanks. There is no room for the weakness or disloyalty of even just one warrior in this epic struggle. Unity is a source of uncommon strength in every endeavor.
6. Ideals And Culture Are Important: It would have been so easy for King Leonidas to accept the bribes and offers of King Xerxes to just kneel before him, and the Persians would reward him the kingship of all the Greek states and allow him to live. However, the Spartans had ideals and an honor code that defined their nation and united their people.
What are the corporate ideals and philosophy of various enterprises that have made the transition from good to great, compared to the many more companies that rose and eventually faded away? What are the unifying values of a winning team, corporation, management group or nation-state?
7. Great Leadership Equals Great Success: There is no doubt that the uncompromisingly honest, inspirational, capable, selfless and fearless leadership of King Leonidas is the secret behind the epoch-making last stand of the 300 Spartans. Sure he died at Thermopylae, but he dealt a crushing blow to the morale of the Persian hordes, caused numerous casualties out of proportion to the Spartan warriors’ small number and united the various Greek city-states. King Leonidas was a brave and principled hero who deserves this excellent film tribute and should be a role model for all of us.
Whether in businesses, families, sports, organizations or in the governance of nation-states, we should aspire for or demand no less than great, honest, inspirational and selfless leadership.
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