Rescue Mission

Wow! What an amazing end to a hostage situation! As the story of the capture and freeing of Captain Richard Phillips unraveled over the weekend, I couldn’t stop thinking about how well coordinated and planned the entire operation had to be. The other side was also very experienced. According to a former US negotiator, Somali pirates have strong “business” negotiation skills. CNN states that pirates in Somalia identified the slain men confirming that two of them were among the "most experienced men" in a group that has hijacked seagoing vessels for money. So this was no easy task for the SEALs.

Historically, most of today’s business strategies have been inherited from the Military. Business tactic and execution in the past emulated training and experiences received by military commanders. Today, businesses are facing a different kind of piracy, where they need to have on their side the best negotiators, best strategists and best marksmen (figuratively speaking. I am not suggesting the killing of anybody here). The point is that when you are in a tight spot, the last thing you want to do is to capitulate by paying the money or by ignoring the situation. This is the time when you need experts on your side and your business cannot afford not to afford them. Strategy is becoming a bastardized word but true strategists should be sought after and negotiators are crucial. The trap that most businesses fall into is to believe that they have those skills in-house and for cheaper.