5 ‘Agile’ Principles Genghis Khan Taught To His Scaled Up Empire
According to McKinsey report 2018, 3/4 of their respondents (business leaders) said agile transformation is the top or at least the top-three priorities to achieve in their companies. It seems like organizational-agility is the future of organization development. Having said that, It’s a fascinating fact knowing that it has been implemented long before. Not only in software development, these principles also have been used in empire development LOL. In this case, i would like to take you back to Genghis Khan’s empire history around 13th century.
Starting from humble beginnings, Genghis Khan who used to be called ‘Temujin’ (before he became Mongol’s Khan), rose to be one of most successful military commander in human history. He took only 25 years to scaled up and conquered one of the biggest land territory the world has ever known. After he passed away, Mongol Empire encompassed around 10 million square miles measuring the same size of Africa continent and larger than US, Canada, Mexico combined.
By uniting many other tribes under single rule, the number of their armies increased tremendously (merger & acquisition in the past LOL). It seems like a huge advantage on the surface. But, it could be major drawback if they have to sacrifice their agility that helped them won over enemies. Every time they acquired new territory . They need to fit these new people, armies, tribes, into their growing teams. Temujin claimed such values that surprisingly promote agile mindset for his newly scale up armies, which are:
- Self sufficient armies. Traditional armies travel in long column carrying massive supply caravan. In contrast, Mongols armies spread out over the vast areas to provide sufficient grasses for their horses. Each soldier carries his own food supplies or hunted by himself.
- Rapid communication and cherish bottom-up innovation. Communication across such a large areas was crucial for the strategy mentioned above, but all Mongols soldiers was illiterate. Despite this challenge, they could prevent silos between each squad. How? One of the officer came up with novel solution. Orders were composed in rhymes to ensure that messages was easily memorized and repeated to every soldier as exactly as they were originally spoken. Funnily, nowadays, it’s easy to collaborate with interactive messenger, email, and channels, but silos keep happening.
- Cross-functional teams. Temujin organized his armies into squad of 10. Each squad has a doctor and a commander. who always knew how to find what they needed. The squads kept growing in numbers then they could formed company of tribe. He also promoted T-shaped skills for each of them. Each individual was given different tasks based on the priority of the need. All members of tribes regardless of gender and age had to perform public services for the benefit of the tribe including cooking, repairing weapons, gathering fuel, even performing music to entertain the troops. This work method can enhance broader skillsets and improve efficiencies.
- Integrate diverse tribes and align company vision. After they had captured almost an entire army and all of the civilians of other empires, Temujin had to integrating everyone under 1 unified rule. He has transformed traditional lineage classes into meritocracy system. Everyone work for the benefit of the empire/company. In modern world, mergers and acquisitions also have double-edged-sword potentials. Integrating everyone under the same banner is one of the most challenging process of growth.
- Self managing/organizing team. When Temujin was trapped and separated from his armies with enemy at his heels, he could not afford to fight. He ordered his small group to fled and scattered to all directions. Back in his home, his newly united armies were now without their respected leader. He sent messenger to his tent of thousand followers hoping that they would save him and strike the enemy back. Can you imagine 10,000 soldiers that separated from their leader come to turn things around! This army thundered toward the unsuspected enemy to save their leader.
Those agile values helped them defeat Temujin’s long time same blood rival, Jamukha. In the battlefield, squads of 10 approached Jamukha’s camps silently in the pre-dawn darkness. The enemy couldn’t see from which direction they were coming and how many people were attacking. After Hours of hit and run tactic, Temujin changed his tactic advanced with wide line of armies who fire their arrows, then melted back behind the next line their replacement. Enemies attempted to counter this by spreading out the long wide line. Temujin switched tactics again rearranging his man to a narrow deep formation that allowed them to stabbed through the wide but thin enemy’s line. Victory was swifted. Now Temujin could claim his throne and became Mongol’s Genghis Khan.
Following Genghis Khan death, The Mongol empire stretched from Pacific Ocean in east to the Caspian sea in west.
Sources:
Aghina, W., De Smet, A., Lackey, G., Lurie, M., & Murarka, M. (2018, January). The five trademarks of agile organizations. Retrieved from Mckinsey website: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/the-five-trademarks-of-agile-organizations
Extra Credits. (2018, March 17). Genghis Khan — Beginnings of the Great Mongol Nation — Extra History — #5. Retrieved from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPYnY_TgQDA&t=234s
Extra Credits. (2018, March 10). Genghis Khan — Khan of All Mongols — Extra History — #4. Retrieved from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmYcxEOBk_8&t=467s
