“Doing Nothing” Business strategy

Many of you would be surprised to read the title of this blog: “Doing nothing”.You might ask me: Can this be called a business strategy at all? Well there is time tested strategy of doing nothing in the annals of history.

Great warriors sometimes pass on doing nothing. Take the case of Genghis Khan who saw the Great Statue of the “Bamiyan Buddha” in Afghanistan. After a brief moment of reflection the Great Khan has been reported to have said: “Let’s leave this to history”. Several centuries later the Taliban Terrorists flattened it disregarding the advice of the Khan.

History apart, military affairs is sometimes besotted with incidents when doing the opposite of it can also be equated as doing nothing when someone deliberately chooses to ignore it. Lord Horace Nelson did that during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, when the signal 'discontinue the action' was hoisted he ignored it and continued firing. Nelson later on declared that he could not see the signal because he is partially blind. The British succeeded and later Lord Nelson was promoted as commander in chief of the British fleet.

Sun Tzu adds more colour when he values a commander who follows doing nothing strategy thus: “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight”.

So doing nothing can be applied in different types of circumstances. Personal life military life and in business strategy. Here is a laundry list:

1. There is no need to demonstrate that “You are in action”

2. Where holding the current position is better option

3. When perceiving that no change in status- quo would be forthcoming even if you intervene

4. Doing anything can backfire or be counter productive

5. Circumstances do not warrant accommodating another player in the contest

6. Might as well allow two or three opponents in the ring continue to fight and tire and turn out ultimately as spent forces

7. Keep your powder dry: Be calm and be ready for future action that requires your intervention to set things right

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist