Leadership – Duty – Adaptability. These are three traits that make veterans great hires. The business world may call them Management Experience – Accountability – Problem-Solving.

Many who have not served do not understand the experience veterans have beyond what they see in the media and/or from Hollywood. Veterans need to get better at discussing how Leadership – Duty – Adaptability make them invaluable to an employer.

Leadership-Duty-Adaptability? Hire A Vet!

Veterans and Leadership

Leadership is not rank dependent in the military. Leadership is expected and present at every level. Why? If my immediate superior goes down, I must be ready to step up and lead.

In the Army, we have 20-25 year old squad leaders and section leaders responsible for leading people. They are responsible for coordinating plans, supplies and logistics for every peace time or war time mission.

If you are an employer and you are looking for management experience, team-building experience or project management experience –

HIRE A VET!

Veterans and Duty

Duty is a term that needs a revival. Everyone who has served understands the word Duty. It means “We act based on our moral obligations.” I expanded on this topic in this recent blog (click title to read): Duty – Beyond a Job Description.

A military veteran has a different approach to difficult circumstances. In the military there is a thing called a “Can Do Attitude”. When I asked my soldiers to do something I would often hear, “Can Do, Sir!”

The military develops a mindset that failure is not an option. If I am asked to accomplish a mission or a task, I must find a way to get it done. There is no good excuse for failure. There is only an expectation that the mission will be completed.

If you are an employer and you are looking to get rid of excuses at work. If you want people who understand accountability and responsibility –

HIRE A VET!

Veterans and Adaptability

“A plan always looks good right up until the first shot is fired.” I recently said this during a Veteran’s Day speech, and I watched every veteran in the audience nod his/her head.

It did not matter if the veteran was Army-Navy-Air Force-Marine-Coast Guard. They all understood. It did not matter if the veteran served in combat, in a support role, or in peace-time. They all understood.

“Adapt lieutenant! Adapt!” I heard this from both officers and non-commissioned officers who were trying to train me to be a better leader. In the military, if Plan A or Plan B did not work, I had to adapt until I found a way to make it work.

If you are an employer and you want to hire a problem-solver, an out of the box thinker or a change agent –

HIRE A VET!

The Bottom Line:

Veterans are different.

Employers need to know Leadership – Duty – Adaptability make veterans different. Employers need to understand that if they want to a company where Leadership – Duty – Adaptability are part of the DNA, hiring veterans is a great place to start.

Veterans need to know how to communicate to employers how Leadership – Duty – Adaptability are part of who we are. We must let employers know that these three traits are not rank dependent, and they are present in most veterans.

Stories are the most effective and memorable form of communication God has given us. If you want to understand or communicate these three traits in veterans, then ask for stories and use stories. People remember stories.

Employers- Ask veterans to tell you a story about when they led, when duty called, or when they adapted.

Veterans – Tell employers stories that illustrate your leadership, your “Can do” attitude, and your ability to adapt.

If I am hiring and I want:

• A team with leaders at every level.
• A team that is accountable and does not make excuses.
• A team full of problem-solvers.

Then I am going to HIRE A VET!

To read more blogs on Leadership, Character, Culture, Courage, and Trust click on: www.alslead.com.

 Question:

What stories can veterans tell employers to illustrate Leadership – Duty – Adaptability?