Seven strategy lessons from Putin

Quintessentially, Putin is a master strategist. He has his unique style that cannot be traced to any strategy masters, past or present. His training as KGB operative and Judo player may have some influence. Lot comes from his own experience and that of others who have had gone through in similar process. Here is my cherry picking seven strategy lessons from Putin:

1. Make no mistake he is a long term player and not a short term guy. He reads, listens, observes, collates his and others’ experience, reflects and then only switch on decision making. That borders on three alternative paths: do something, do nothing or await further.

2. Patiently seeking for allies, supporters and sympathisers within Russia and without he consciously seeks his idea and opinion be received with favourable light such that whatever is decided reflects consensual one rather than one imposed from the top. Having said that he never lets go of the big picture.

3. He allows a situation that arises to take its own course to ripen such that when time comes for action he moves decisively having well prepared for that situation. Let this sink in. He does not rush in but moves cautiously making incremental advances rather than going for a blitzkrieg. Economy of force measure he employs first then elevates the escalation ladder. This is amply proven by the special military operation in Eastern Ukraine.

4.  At the periphery he remains as if inactive, but in point of fact he deliberately undermines his opponents, their power structure, their support base and even their enthusiasm to lock horns with Russia. This he does not only on the leaders but over the broader public. Right now the West is split halfway in their support for Ukraine in terms of quantum and dedication.

5. His tenacity to seize unexpected opportunity is legendary. When the maidan coup took place in Ukraine he said nothing of importance rather than parroting the ills of NATO expansion. Yet he sent his armed forces quickly across Crimea and took it without much bloodshed. Afterwards, he cunningly legitimised his action by holding a referendum in Crimea to obtain the support of the citizens most of whom are Russians wishing union with the motherland.

6. Concealing true intention is yet another business strategy lesson Putin practices and must be emulated by strategy practitioners. As regards to Ukraine operations he went on talking about de-militarization, de-nazification etc. Yet nowhere had he indicated that he is up to the loathsome task of extending the Black Sea Coastline. Russia originally had 800 km. Adding the acquisition from Abkhazia and Crimea it extended to 1720 km. Azov victory lands another 240 km. (Originally belonging to Ukraine) jacking up the total to 1960 km. Odessa and its environ shall give another 1000 km. Altogether Russia is to control 2,960 km of Black Sea Coastline.

7.  Calm and pleasantly poised, he always goes for the least-bloody alternative but Putin at times can be as brutal as what we understand about the Russian bear. Evidently, his meat grinder operations in Ukraine demonstrates his hard ball tactics and his capacity to inflict untold destruction

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

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E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist