The Russian politics were, are, and have forever been cold. It is not just the Cold War; the country had oppressive regimes even before and after the event. The country eventually collapsed forming other countries like Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, etc., but has still not learned from the lesson.
The Lessons From Cold Russian Politics – They Also Apply To Your Life
But the question is, what would you get from these highly political events that changed the shape of the world? Believe it or not, there are tons of lessons you could learn from these oppressive events so you don’t repeat the same mistakes the Russians did. They are helpful in your general life, be it your work or personal life.
The Collapse of USSR – 6 Lessons Your Life Could Benefit From
But what are the lessons you can apply to your life from the oppressive USSR regime? Though there are several lessons, six apply the most. These lessons are listed and discussed as follows:
- The rule of oppression cannot work
- Suppressing open communication leads to stagnation
- Unchecked power corrupts and creates inefficiency
- Micromanagement is the leading cause of dissatisfaction
- Resistance to change leads to irrelevance and collapse
- Truth and transparency build trust, while deception erodes it
1. The Rule of Oppression Can And Will Not Work
Once a wise man said, “A government or society can function even with a lack of shared faith among its people, but it will inevitably fail if it is unjust.” How does it apply to your life? Well, if you have a business or a family, be just and kind to the employees/ family members because your own people wouldn’t want to listen to you if you do not listen.
2. Suppressing Others’ Voices Leads To Stagnation
People do have a voice, and if you force them not to speak, you will run out of creative ideas. Creative ideas need a voice, and the Soviet regime didn’t understand that. Ultimately, it failed tremendously.
The same applies to your business and especially your family. Everyone is a genius, and you need to figure out what skill your people are genius in, so they can grow. But if you suppress their voices because of some disability or inability to do a particular task, they will never love you truly.
3. Unchecked Power Corrupts The Core
An oppressive regime is a form of government, and a just and magnificent empire is also a form of government. Joseph Stalin was a ruler, and so was Seledin. The only thing that differentiates both the figures today is that one is known for holding one of the most oppressive regimes of all time that eventually broke, while the other was known for his benevolence. He was so merciful that he allowed Christian pilgrims to visit the holy city of Jerusalem, despite the place’s crucial importance among Muslims.
This especially applies to your business. Your employees have a voice, and they might be more creative than you. There is a reason why companies like Google and Microsoft have aged better than fine wine and are continuing to grow.
4. Micromanagement Is The Lead Cause of Consistent Errors
The same lesson that applies to unchecked power applies to micromanagement. Your employees won’t speak about it, but constant scrutiny, nitpicking, and checks, and balances lead to utter frustration and a downgrade in productivity. You might also have employees with attention deficit problems like ADD, ADHD, Autism, and AuDHD, all of which do not work under micromanagement.
5. Resistance To Change Leads To Irreversible Collapse
The beauty of human nature is that we naturally evolve over time, and resisting that change is an unnatural repulsion. Though there are instances like fear of loss or the unknown, any factor other than that is forced resistance. That resistance is what broke the USSR into several pieces, and it will also affect you if you do not change personally or financially. Not to mention, the damage is irreversible; you have to go back in time to fix it.
6. Deception Erodes The Core Concept of Trust
I would like to ask you a question: name one deceptive ruler who had a loyal following of the people under him. You can’t, right? On the other hand, honest rulers like Seledin, the rulers of the Ottoman Empire, Asoka the Great, and the 1st United States President George Washington are all greatly admired, not just by their natives but by people around the world. You will be admired too, if you make honesty a part of you.
Serge R. Pospelov – The Guy Who Escaped The Oppressive Russian Army
If the lessons learned from military history books on the USSR can help you in your life, the lessons from a daring escape from the Russian army will too. Serge R. Pospelov escaped the Russian army during the tumult of the 1990s and shares the lessons he learned from the escape.
