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Small Circle for Sensitive Operations

strategyexecution90% High

13

Occurrences

64%

Success Rate

3.9

Avg Rating

Description

When executing sensitive strategic operations, keep the circle of informed people as small as possible to prevent leaks that could accelerate hostile action or undermine the initiative.

Typical Approach

Limit information sharing to essential personnel only. Execute quickly to remove adversary leverage before they can act. Use the secured position for legal/social negotiation leverage. Speed is important but so is operational security - identify only the people who absolutely need to know.

Trigger Conditions

Keywords:
sensitiveconfidentialstrategicleakcrisiscontingencyleveragehostilesabotagethreat
Constraints: information leak could harm outcome, hostile actors may exist, time-sensitive execution needed, legal or negotiation leverage at stake
People: when planning response to external threats or sensitive changes, when adversary has leverage that can be neutralized

Last applied: January 14, 2026

Created: December 28, 2025

Pattern ID: 58ca046d-ebbc-4328-85f1-6d7ca69a48ea