As soldiers go to battle for our country, they see and experience things that citizens cannot imagine. Through their experience, they are molded into leaders both on and off the battlefield. Unfortunately, sometimes veterans find it difficult to secure employment upon their return home. Instead of looking at veterans as a possible liability, companies should understand just how lucky they are to employ a veteran. The following  are just a few of the ways the United States military molds men and women into future leaders:

 

How to Get Comfortable with the Uncomfortable

 

As a soldier, you are constantly living a rough life. You rarely have the chance to bathe, you sleep very little and in very uncomfortable conditions, and the food you eat tastes nothing like what you’re used to from home. Not to mention the weather conditions you face as a soldier. Combine all of these elements together and a soldier becomes comfortable with the uncomfortable. As soldiers become comfortable in unfavorable conditions, they begin to recognize just how good their life is at home and that creates gratitude and a new perspective.

 

How to Take Responsibility

 

When you are a military service member, millions are people are relying on you daily. In addition, you are relying on your team members daily. This creates an environment of learned responsibility. This translates seamlessly to the business world. When a veteran is asked to complete a task, you can count on the fact that they will not only complete the task but complete it to the highest possible standard.

 

How to Take Pride in Your Work

 

As a United States soldier, every task you do will be thoroughly reviewed. Sloppy work is unacceptable and through time and training, soldiers begin to produce flawless work both on and off the battlefield. This is an invaluable skill in the workplace.

 

Going into the military is not for everyone, and that is perfectly ok. However, we must recognize those who have made the bold and honorable decision to fight for our country. Not only are they serving their country during their time in the service, but they are also molding into future leaders. The United States military creates men and women who know how to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, how to take full responsibility no matter way, and how to take impeccable pride in their work. These skills are extremely valuable in the workplace and cannot be understated.

What is the difference in communication between a regular employee and a leader? Leaders are aware of their blind spots, able to deliver tough messages concisely and build a positive rapport with their employees.

Be Aware of your Blind Spots

As you get into higher up leadership roles, the more you will see and the more you won’t see at the same time. It is inevitable for leaders to develop blind spots to certain issues within their company. Leaders don’t intentionally become out of touch with the rest of their team, but sometimes it does happen. The best way to prevent blind spots is to be aware of them. Understand that the more you move up in a company, the larger the probability is that you will develop blind spots. Once you are aware, you can actively keep an eye on things you may have been missing.

Don’t Sandwich your Messaging

Often times, people will deliver bad news, whether that be a poor performance review or a simple critique of work, in a sandwich. Bosses will start off by providing their employee with positive feedback, then deliver the negative information and finish off with another piece of positive feedback. Avoid doing this if you want to be effective in your communication. This creates mixed messages and confused employees. Instead of delivering harsh news in a sandwich, be precise with your words and deliver it straight forward. In the end, employees will appreciate a leader who is direct and concise.

Build Good Rapport

You’re more likely to receive honest feedback and ensure solid communication if people feel comfortable and safe communicating with you. How do you go about building this rapport? It’s simple. Build relationships with people by asking about their day, their life and their work. Show them that you too are a human being as well as showing them that you care about their lives. This will go a long way with your employees.

A leader cannot succeed if they cannot communicate effectively. How can they do about doing so? By being aware of blind spots, delivering direct messages and building good rapport with their employees, leaders can be confident in their communication abilities.