What Are Military Leadership Traits? How They Apply to Any Organization

The United States Armed Forces are creating most of the greatest leaders in history generous, wise, determined, and committed. Such attributes are utterly crucial in the military, and the mercantile community strongly respects them, so much that over 500 fortune firms are now searching for retired officers to employ via their executive training programs. When a veteran says they are going to do something, they know that they will follow through, even if it causes inconvenience to them. Dependability is one of the many military leadership traits that make veterans highly sought-after leaders.

It is quite challenging to find any military position that does not confer any benefit on the civilian workforce. Even those that don’t seem to communicate well still teach consistency and coordination, qualities that every organization recognizes as significant. But military leadership traits build some unique attributes above all others, and those are the ones that could benefit a civilian business.

Service-Guided Leadership

Military and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) sometimes guide service members into incredibly difficult and dangerous circumstances. Strategies of incentive typical to civilian labor such as the prospect of future pay or the possibility of demotion are inefficient. Money doesn’t rile up people who could not live to use it, and the risk of losing a fancy work title isn’t a massive threat to someone faced with the prospect of injuries or death.

Military leaders know that a new strategy is required. The individuals that imitate them have to be motivated. To accomplish this purpose, competent officers and NCOs try to build a relationship of trust and loyalty with those they lead. They show devotion to duty and service and a desire to share the challenges and hardships of men and women under their influence. It produces dedicated followers willing to go the extra mile instead of cynical staff worried solely about their next payday.

This perspective — that employees are often much more inspired by trusting bosses than others who give incentives and fines — is far too frequently absent from private enterprises. But executives with expertise in military leadership will carry this refreshing approach to any company willing to invest in them.

Integral Preparation

Many companies are excellent at organizing, but no one does it better than the army. That’s because many of the army core values require much more than a standard protocol for how to move from A to B. FM 6–22 covers the big picture and the details of Army leadership and outlines the army chain of command. Military officials draw up contingency plans and carry out mission training drills to brace for the possible outcome of the challenge.

The scientific attitude requires an open-minded humility because it involves a willingness to recognize the errors in our own ideas.

This kind of preparation expertise could change a civilian business. Employees who have been adequately educated and have extensively rehearsed their positions are much more likely to carry out a plan successfully . And preparation for multiple contingencies ensures that there are few if any unintended outcomes; even if the initiative does not yield the intended result, there are contingency measures to minimize potential damages. Preparation at this stage is of a secondary order for administrators and executives with expertise in military leadership.

Mentoring and Practice

In the military, the leaders carefully and jointly assess the success of individual members of the army. Areas wherein they succeed are recognized, and so are those in which they struggle. Then a strategy is set in motion to help them build on their strengths and fix their shortcomings. That may mean one-on-one time with a tutor, additional field training activities as part of a squad, or even individual duty assignments that offer an incentive to learn different skills in a real-world environment. In certain instances, it is the responsibility of the NCO or junior officer to oversee this military motivation.

In the business sector, the restriction of practice to a general orientation takes place only in the first few weeks of work. Mentoring can be non-existent or limited to casual agreements made by an irregular boss and a colleague who is exceptionally well off. Leaders who learn their military expertise will allow businesses and other organizations to enhance their management of career growth.

They realize the advantages of assessing subordinates and designing a strategy to enhance their performance continually. They also recognize that there is a need for professional engagement if staff spend more time learning from their immediate boss or senior management, taking the opportunity to cultivate mentor-mentee relationships around the organization.

Next Step: Seeking Military Experience Leaders

There are several opportunities to bring members with military experience to the organization. Some are so obvious that they barely need to be demonstrated: search for service in the military on portfolios and resumes. Ask about it directly on the application form. Let current staff refer veterans and service personnel who has gotten or will eventually get out of the force.

Companies looking to take a more involved approach will attend veterans’ career fairs as exhibitors. Such conferences take place around the country and are accompanied by veterans and transition workers searching for jobs. It’s a great way to contact ambitious young people who have expertise in military leadership. According to research findings, followers seek and admire leaders who create feelings of excitement, significance, and community.

Another approach is to develop a system for hiring and educating veterans — and then let others learn about it. Many of the world’s most profitable businesses have achieved so and have earned a tremendous return on their investment. It takes a lot of time from the boss, but it can also help recruit top-notch talent.

There are different solutions to this than the ones mentioned above. Any organization that wants to get more Veterans with military leadership traits into management roles will carry out comprehensive work and research into how best to accomplish this goal. It’s worth the time; the leadership experiences and expertise they bring to the table will dramatically change how a company handles, trains, and grows its employees.

Originally published at https://www.generalrobertgoodwin.com on August 13, 2020.