[January 09, 2015] Those employed in private business are likely to know a military veteran in the workplace. Not surprisingly, that veteran is more likely to show good leader traits and is more likely to be trusted, relative to their peers. Why veterans take on leadership jobs and quickly do well in business leader roles is no accident. It is the result of many factors but an important one is that the military provides leadership opportunities to all service members, trains leader skills, and rewards those that do well.
In earlier posts I described how U.S. military veterans fail in a variety of settings once they depart the service (see links here and here). When compared to their peers, overall veteran performance in college, business, and measures of wellness is subpar. Yet, these two inescapable facts are puzzling and the outward contradiction can be confusing.
Entrance into the U.S. military at the lowest of rank means that the individual will be quickly assigned some rudimentary leadership tasks. This consists of being part of a team and learning to function within the confines of teamwork. It also means learning that responsibility for the performance of others and that this is essential for the team to do well. Not all service members will do well but all are required to shoulder the mantle of leadership throughout most of their career.
Leader training is provided both formally and through a series of informal arrangements. Much of the early training is through involuntarily leader positions. Those circumstances provide the opportunity for leader development, testing of the service member’s social skills, and their adaptability in a setting that imposes no punishment of consequence for failure. Most of us found it uncomfortable when placed in those early leader roles but we did learn to appreciate the challenges of leadership.
Military leadership training also extends beyond the daily work environment. For instance, military leaders are responsible for their team at all times. A civilian typically is responsible for their team only when it is acting to accomplish a task. Service members are also required to know their team’s whereabouts and many other details of team member’s lives. Thus the military team lead has a more comprehensive view of leadership and has the chance to put that into practice around the clock.
Rewards for achievement in leadership roles are significant. The leader is often rewarded with positions of greater responsibility, prestige, promotion (and therefore increased pay), and influence. With the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, we may have heard of medals being awarded when leaders display courage while exercising leadership in combat.
Why veterans succeed, especially in leadership roles, is one that is not unanticipated given the military’s emphasis on leader skills. The military is providing structure and predictability to its leaders. These factors are a complex mix of opportunity, training, and rewards that is specifically designed to produce leaders. No wonder veterans naturally gravitate to those positions in the civilian workforce.
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