By: Eric Brown, Founder & CEO of Imperio Consulting and Author of “The Green Beret Approach”

During my 24-year career as a Green Beret in US special forces, I observed shifts within both single operations and the larger military ecosystem. Upon retiring, I discovered that the principles we employed to successfully navigate change in the field were strikingly similar to those I needed in the corporate arena.

One critical factor that makes or breaks your success on the field is your openness to insights from external advisers. In the same way, businesses need the guiding influence of an outside perspective as they undergo mergers, acquisitions, technological adoptions, or cultural shifts.

How Change Impacts the Parallel Worlds of Military and Corporate Operations

Change is inevitable whether you spend your days conducting missions in hostile territory or managing multinational mergers. Either way, your reaction to changes requires careful orchestration, strategic foresight, and the ability to adapt in real-time.

In the military, we are trained to anticipate change with meticulous planning and seamless execution. However, despite our advanced training, one truth remains: no plan survives first contact with the enemy. Similarly, in business, even the most well-researched strategies can fall apart when faced with market shifts or internal resistance.

The complexities and unpredictabilities of change make integrating an external viewpoint to complement internal expertise imperative. In Special Forces, we often collaborate with local allies or intelligence operators to gain insights we might not possess. This fusion of internal and external perspectives propels the mission’s success.

The same principle applies in the corporate sector. External advisors bring a wealth of experience, objectivity, and innovative approaches that steer organizations through turbulent times.

Why External Advisors Are Invaluable During Periods of Change

One might wonder why external advisors, who may lack intimate knowledge of the organization’s intricacies, become invaluable during times of change. The answer lies in the broader viewpoint they offer. Change often ushers in ambiguity that can cloud judgment and stifle creativity.

External advisors are not entangled in organizational politics or historical biases. This objectivity allows them to provide a clear-eyed assessment of the situation, identifying pitfalls and opportunities that might be overlooked by those too close to the issue.

External advisors also often bring experience across different industries and verticals. This diversity of experience equips them with a broader set of tools and innovative solutions that might be novel to the organization undergoing change. In many cases, fresh ideas and cross-pollination are precisely what a team needs to ignite a spark of innovation that transforms an organization’s trajectory.

External Advisers Help Team Leaders Avoid Blind Spots

No leader can go through life without the inconvenience of blind spots. Worse, the limitations imposed by these natural human traits tend to be exacerbated during periods of stress and change.

During military operations, we mitigate our vulnerability to blind spots by conducting thorough After-Action Reviews and incorporating external evaluations. Only with these outside influences can we be confident that we are not missing critical threats or opportunities.

In the corporate setting, external advisors serve a similar function. They question foundational assumptions that go unchallenged within the organization and bring an external lens to scrutinize the status quo, revealing blind spots that internal teams might ignore due to cognitive biases or groupthink.

External advisers’ sophisticated risk assessments take into account variables that may not be apparent to internal teams. This holistic view helps organizations prepare for contingencies and mitigate risks more effectively.

Someone on the outside can typically present a broader range of potential scenarios during planning sessions. Their objective creativity helps organizations enhance strategic resilience by preparing for both opportunities and threats.

Enhance Adaptability With Fresh Perspectives

During my time as a Green Beret, I learned that adaptability was not just about responding to changes. As much as possible, I needed to anticipate changes before they came and be ready for them, which required a growth mindset that was always open to continuous learning.

In the corporate sector, external advisors often introduce best practices and insights from other industries that accelerate organizational learning. By adopting these new approaches, organizations become highly adaptable, enabling them to leapfrog stages of development.

The presence of external advisors encourages a culture of openness and continuous improvement. It signals employees that the organization values diverse viewpoints and is committed to evolving and innovating.

Even the most elite and well-trained teams benefit immensely from external insights. In the corporate world, external advisors bring objectivity, innovative solutions, and comprehensive risk assessments that are invaluable during transitions. They help organizations avoid blind spots, enhance adaptability, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

As organizations navigate the complexities of change, embracing external perspectives can be the differentiator between stagnation and transformative success. Just as the insights of allies and intelligence can turn the tide of a military operation, the wisdom of external advisors can guide businesses through tumultuous change toward a successful future.

Eric Brown is an innovative leader with over 24 years of experience in the Special Forces as a Green Beret. During his military career, Eric led complex operations across 12 countries, excelling in crisis management, team building, and strategic planning. As the Founder and CEO of Imperio Consulting, Eric integrates his military background with sharp business acumen to develop customized solutions for C-suite executives and leadership teams. His approach, rooted in simplicity, adaptability, and collaboration, enables organizations to navigate challenges, build trust, and achieve exceptional outcomes. Eric holds a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School and an MBA from ENEB. His achievements include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and four Bronze Stars. In addition to his professional work, Eric enjoys hiking and mentoring veterans through military transitions.

Published by: Holy Minoza