--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I found while leading special…" description: "\"As I found while leading special operations forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, if the problem is interconnected, your organization must be, as well.\" — Ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/chris-fussell-19076_afghanistan_as-i-found-while-leading-special-operati_2163297.jpg" --- # As I found while leading special operations forces in Iraq… ![“As I found while leading special operations forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, if the problem is interconnected, your organization must be, as well.” quote by Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/chris-fussell-19076_afghanistan_as-i-found-while-leading-special-operati_2163297.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/chris-fussell-19076_afghanistan_as-i-found-while-leading-special-operati_2163297.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/chris-fussell-19076_afghanistan_as-i-found-while-leading-special-operati_2163297.jpg) > “As I found while leading special operations forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, if the problem is interconnected, your organization must be, as well.” [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complex problems require organizations that mirror their interdependence, ensuring coordination across units. **In simple terms:** Organize like the problem. Key Takeaway Structure teams to reflect problem links. Themes systems interdependence leadership Mood strategic analytical Type leadership practical When to use this quote - military planning - corporate restructuring - project management - crisis response Key Concepts complexity network theory adaptive organization Questions to Reflect On - How can you map interdependencies in your work? - What structures hinder holistic coordination? A Different Perspective May be hard to redesign entrenched hierarchies quickly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Special operations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-operations/) ## Related quotes > [Leaders in an interconnected organization must be comfortable sitting in the middle of a network, not at the top of an org-chart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/leaders-in-an-interconnected-organization-must-be-comfortable-sitting/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [In Afghanistan, this is the problem, because everybody holds a piece of that mirror, and they all look at it and claim that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsen-makhmalbaf/in-afghanistan-this-is-the-problem-because-everybody-holds-a-piece-of/) [Mohsen Makhmalbaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsen-makhmalbaf/) > [I've spent 7 Christmases in Iraq and Afghanistan with WWE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-layfield/i-ve-spent-7-christmases-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-with-wwe/) [John Layfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-layfield/) > [We are particularly interested in the mental health programs and policies that support our troops and their families before, during, and after deployment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-mchugh/we-are-particularly-interested-in-the-mental-health-programs-and/) [John M. McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-mchugh/) > [I oppose the spending of trillions in Iraq and Afghanistan, I strongly oppose Islamic extremism but don't believe that sending troops to die in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/i-oppose-the-spending-of-trillions-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-i-strongly/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [ I was in Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Bahrain. The first year I went pretty much by myself. Then I went with General \[Richard\] Myers, head… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-was-in-iraq-afghanistan-djibouti-bahrain-the-first-year-i-went/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [A democratic and stable Iraq and Afghanistan are essential to our broader efforts to make no place safe for terrorists and to win the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/a-democratic-and-stable-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-essential-to-our/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [Iraq and Afghanistan are now democracies and they are allies in the cause of freedom and peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now-democracies-and-they-are-allies-in-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The true credit for our safety and security goes to our men and women who are serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-hutchinson/the-true-credit-for-our-safety-and-security-goes-to-our-men-and-women/) [Asa Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-hutchinson/) > [Every time I visit Iraq or Afghanistan I am blown away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/every-time-i-visit-iraq-or-afghanistan-i-am-blown-away/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [What's always got me is the fact that when people talked on the telly about Iraq, before Afghanistan kicked off, you'd get only these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-kemp/what-s-always-got-me-is-the-fact-that-when-people-talked-on-the-telly/) [Ross Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-kemp/) > [If today is anything like the typical day of the past 3 years, three American soldiers will die in Iraq or Afghanistan, the Taliban…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcee-hastings/if-today-is-anything-like-the-typical-day-of-the-past-3-years-three/) [Alcee Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcee-hastings/) > [We havent been out in many of these countries helping them build infrastructure. How would they look at us today if we had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-murray/we-havent-been-out-in-many-of-these-countries-helping-them-build/) [Patty Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-murray/) > [When did an old white guy yelling at me, telling me what to think become news? What gives him the right to tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ling/when-did-an-old-white-guy-yelling-at-me-telling-me-what-to-think/) [Lisa Ling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ling/) > [Special operations are small, highly specialized. They do amazing work when they're put into the fight, but it's a limited resource. And so if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/special-operations-are-small-highly-specialized-they-do-amazing-work/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) ## More by Chris Fussell > [It's difficult to feel as though you are truly being effective at work. Many of us feel trapped in endless meetings, with barely any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/it-s-difficult-to-feel-as-though-you-are-truly-being-effective-at/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [“As you move up and achieve ever-greater success, the world will constantly push you to assume the archetype of a lauded, lone hero. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/as-you-move-up-and-achieve-ever-greater-success-the-world-will/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [A dynamic team cannot rely solely on orders; they must be able to read each others' every move so they can act as parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/a-dynamic-team-cannot-rely-solely-on-orders-they-must-be-able-to-read/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [If the most deeply interconnected individuals can exemplify the behaviors that your official top brass sets out, then the rest of the organization will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/if-the-most-deeply-interconnected-individuals-can-exemplify-the/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [Most teams are naturally flat; they have fewer members than a large enterprise, which allows for intimacy and trust to form. This makes collaborative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/most-teams-are-naturally-flat-they-have-fewer-members-than-a-large/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [“In his 2004 book The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, psychologist Barry Schwartz makes the case that when one is given more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/in-his-2004-book-the-paradox-of-choice-why-more-is-less-psychologist/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [By providing clear objectives for your team, and setting guardrails for how they get there, you will set them on the path to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/by-providing-clear-objectives-for-your-team-and-setting-guardrails/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [The Defense Department is prone to all of the 'traditional bureaucratic rules,' which is the same thing you'll find in most traditional government systems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/the-defense-department-is-prone-to-all-of-the-traditional/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [Special operations are small, highly specialized. They do amazing work when they're put into the fight, but it's a limited resource. And so if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/special-operations-are-small-highly-specialized-they-do-amazing-work/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [When the collective mentality of any organization is self and self-preservation first, it's a sure sign of pending doom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/when-the-collective-mentality-of-any-organization-is-self-and-self/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [Bureaucratic advancement means fewer peers, more span of control, generally an increasing information-pump function, and increased distance from the actual implementation of whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/bureaucratic-advancement-means-fewer-peers-more-span-of-control/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [The 20th century was all about hierarchies: if you want to create something, if you want to start a country, create a product, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/the-20th-century-was-all-about-hierarchies-if-you-want-to-create/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [As a leader, you must consistently drive effective communication. Meetings must be deliberate and intentional - your organizational rhythm should value purpose over habit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/as-a-leader-you-must-consistently-drive-effective-communication/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [If you're trying to stay productive, stop and think, 'Are my meetings actually productive, or are we merely having meetings for meetings' sake?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/if-you-re-trying-to-stay-productive-stop-and-think-are-my-meetings/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [Before you can trust your team to make decisions better than you would have, you need to build their capability to connect the dots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/before-you-can-trust-your-team-to-make-decisions-better-than-you/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) [Explore all 33 Chris Fussell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) ## More Afghanistan quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [They're criminals, they brutalized Afghanistan, they killed our people, they destroyed our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/they-re-criminals-they-brutalized-afghanistan-they-killed-our-people/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I have been to Afghanistan many times, even before the Taliban collapsed. I was fascinated by the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-have-been-to-afghanistan-many-times-even-before-the-taliban/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) [Browse all 1,159 Afghanistan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As I found while leading special operations forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, if the problem is interconnected, your organization must be, as well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Fussell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/as-i-found-while-leading-special-operations-forces-in-iraq-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afghanistan" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/as-i-found-while-leading-special-operations-forces-in-iraq-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/chris-fussell-19076_afghanistan_as-i-found-while-leading-special-operati_2163297.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/chris-fussell-19076_afghanistan_as-i-found-while-leading-special-operati_2163297.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/chris-fussell-19076_afghanistan_as-i-found-while-leading-special-operati_2163297.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As I found while leading special operations forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, if the problem is…” — Chris Fussell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chris Fussell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As I found while leading special...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/as-i-found-while-leading-special-operations-forces-in-iraq-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/as-i-found-while-leading-special-operations-forces-in-iraq-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```