Hoplite Wisdom: Forge Stronger B2B Products Through Ancient Principles
The oldest known combatant code can be traced back to ancient Greece and is often associated with the values and principles of Greek hoplites, the heavily armed foot soldiers of that era. While there isn’t a single definitive code, there are several principles that were prevalent among hoplite warriors.
In the fast-paced world of modern B2B product management, where innovation and strategy are the keys to success, it might seem unlikely to find inspiration in the age-old traditions of ancient warriors. Imagine the hoplites of ancient Greece, those heavily armored foot soldiers who fought shoulder to shoulder in the phalanx formation. Their principles of unity, courage, and duty were the bedrock of their battlefield success. While their battlegrounds may have been vastly different from the boardrooms and markets of today, the core values that guided their actions can serve as a compass for navigating the complex landscape of product management.
The principles and values associated with ancient Greek hoplites, while rooted in a martial context, can be adapted and applied to various aspects of modern life, including business and product development. Here’s how these principles can be relevant in these domains:
Unity and Teamwork: Just as hoplites emphasized unity in battle, teamwork is crucial in business and product development. Building a cohesive and collaborative team is essential for success. When team members support and protect each other, they can achieve more together. To achieve team unity, foster a culture of collaboration and cross-functional teamwork within the product development team. Emphasize the importance of alignment with customer needs and business goals. Encourage regular communication and knowledge sharing among designers, developers, and product managers.
For example, Google’s collaborative approach to product development is evident in its suite of products like Google Workspace (formerly G Suite). Teams use tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive to work seamlessly together, fostering a culture of collaboration and unity
Courage and Valor: In the business world, courage translates to taking calculated risks and facing challenges head-on. Entrepreneurs and business leaders often need to make bold decisions and navigate uncertainty. Having the courage to do so can lead to innovation and growth. Encourage calculated risk-taking in product development. Be willing to innovate and differentiate your B2B SaaS product, even if it means challenging industry norms. Monitor market trends closely and have the courage to pivot or iterate when necessary.
Duty and Commitment: Just as hoplites felt a duty to defend their city-state, business leaders and entrepreneurs should feel a sense of duty to their customers, employees, and stakeholders. This includes a commitment to delivering quality products and services. Establish a clear product vision and mission that aligns with the company’s core values and long-term goals. Continuously communicate this vision to the team, ensuring everyone understands their role in fulfilling this duty. Regularly assess the product’s alignment with the company’s mission.
Respect for Authority: In business, respecting leadership and following established procedures can lead to a more organized and efficient operation. Effective leadership and a hierarchical structure can help guide a company toward its goals. While innovation is crucial, ensure that decisions are made by those with the appropriate expertise and authority. Create a structured decision-making process within the product team, with clear roles and responsibilities. Respect the hierarchy while allowing room for input and feedback.
Honoring the Fallen (Learning from Failure): In both warfare and business, there will be setbacks and failures. It’s essential to learn from these experiences and adapt. Honoring the fallen in a business context can mean analyzing and acknowledging failures, and using those lessons to improve. Cultivate a culture of learning from failures. When a feature or product doesn’t meet expectations, conduct thorough post-mortems to understand what went wrong and why. Encourage the team to view failures as opportunities for improvement, not as setbacks.
Physical and Mental Fitness: While physical fitness may not be directly applicable, mental and emotional resilience are crucial in business. Developing resilience helps individuals and teams withstand challenges and setbacks. Ensure that your product is “fit” for the market by regularly monitoring its performance, security, and scalability. Invest in ongoing maintenance and updates to keep it competitive and robust. Additionally, support the mental well-being of the product team to maintain their creativity and productivity.
Self-Reliance and Entrepreneurship: The concept of self-reliance among hoplites can be translated into entrepreneurial self-sufficiency. Entrepreneurs often need to take initiative, be resourceful, and build their businesses from the ground up. Foster a sense of entrepreneurial spirit within the product team. Encourage team members to take initiative, identify opportunities, and propose innovative solutions. Equip the team with the autonomy to make decisions within their areas of expertise.
Ethical Business Practices: Just as hoplites adhered to principles of honor and valor, businesses should operate with ethics and integrity. Ethical behavior builds trust with customers and partners and contributes to long-term success. Establish a strong code of ethics for product development, ensuring that the product is designed and deployed in an ethical and responsible manner. Consider the impact on data privacy, security, and the well-being of users and society as a whole
Continuous Learning: The commitment to training and improving skills seen in hoplites can be applied to ongoing learning and development in business. Staying up-to-date with industry trends and acquiring new knowledge is essential for growth. Let’s take evident Amazon’s commitment to continuous learning in its approach to employee development. The company encourages employees to take on new challenges and provides opportunities for growth and skill acquisition. Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon, offers a wide range of training and certification programs, allowing professionals to stay updated with the latest cloud technology trends. This investment in employee education ensures that Amazon remains at the forefront of innovation in the B2B cloud computing sector.
Community and Social Responsibility: The hoplites’ duty to their city-state can be paralleled with a commitment to corporate social responsibility. Businesses can play a role in making the world a better place by supporting sustainable practices and giving back to their communities. Microsoft’s community and social responsibility initiatives are broad-reaching examples of social responsibility. Through the Microsoft Philanthropies program, the company provides technology, grants, and support to nonprofits and organizations dedicated to addressing critical societal issues. In the B2B realm, Microsoft’s cloud services, particularly Azure, are used to power social impact projects worldwide. By aligning its technology and resources with community needs, Microsoft contributes to the betterment of society while also fostering goodwill among its B2B clients and partners.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving landscape of SaaS product management in 2023, the enduring wisdom of the ancient hoplites offers a timeless compass for success. As we’ve explored, the principles of unity, courage, duty, and more find remarkable resonance in the strategies and practices of today’s top B2B or B2C companies.
For any product leader, these principles are more than historical relics; they are strategic tools for tackling the multifaceted challenges of the digital age. By fostering unity and teamwork, a product leader can harness the collective brilliance of their team to create innovative solutions. With courage and valor, they can boldly navigate uncharted territories, driving product innovation in highly competitive markets.
The duty to uphold the company’s mission and values provides a guiding light, ensuring that every product decision aligns with a greater purpose. Respect for authority instills a sense of discipline and structure in the decision-making process, balancing innovation with leadership.
Learning from failure becomes a cornerstone of growth, enabling adaptability in the face of changing market dynamics. Promoting physical and mental fitness within the team ensures the resilience needed to weather challenges and sustain creativity.
Self-reliance and entrepreneurship empower team members to take initiative, explore new avenues, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Ethical business practices, inspired by ancient values, create a culture of integrity and trust.
Finally, a commitment to continuous learning and community and social responsibility serves as a testament to the power of these principles in fostering a holistic approach to success. Top B2B companies demonstrate that learning is an ongoing journey and that business success is not divorced from societal impact; it’s intrinsically linked.
In this ever-connected world, where digital innovation shapes industries, the hoplite principles offer a bridge between the ancient and the modern, guiding product leaders and their teams to build products that not only meet market demands but also inspire positive change in the world. As we continue forward, let these principles serve as a beacon, lighting the path toward a brighter, more innovative, and socially responsible future for SaaS product management.
References
Cartledge, Paul. “The Greeks: A Portrait of Self and Others.” Oxford University Press, 1993.
Hanson, Victor Davis. “The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece.” University of California Press, 2009.
Kruse, Kevin. “How Ancient Wisdom Can Improve Modern Leadership.” Forbes, 2020.
Lefteri, Chris. “Design as a Way of Thinking: A Greek Perspective.” International Journal of Design, 2017.
Pomeroy, Sarah B. “Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History.” Oxford University Press, 2018.
