Tour of Duty

Tour of duty, in Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha's The Alliance, frames employment as a time-bounded mission with explicit mutual expectations — not lifetime loyalty. Each tour builds skills and outcomes toward the employee's career capital and the company's needs.

The frame helps conversations with managers and advisors: "What mission am I on for the next 18 months, and what do I need to learn?" It reduces guilt about moving on when the tour ends.

For board building, tours clarify which advisors match this chapter versus lifelong mentors. When your tour changes, refresh board composition and thank advisors who helped you complete the last mission.