Leadership is a foundation of organizational success and positive organizational culture. Businesses need and continually look to hire individuals who can inspire teams, manage challenges, and handle changes to achieve the desired results. Veterans bring many skills, experience, and values that make them exceptional leaders in civilian workplaces, primarily since they gain knowledge, skills, and abilities through real-world experiences.
The Business Case for Hiring Veterans
Companies that actively recruit and support veterans gain access to leaders who deliver measurable results. Businesses have higher retention rates with veterans, which promotes corporate knowledge retention. According to an article published by SHRM.org, approximately 200,000 veterans transition out of the military annually, so there’s no lack of opportunities to hire a veteran.
Veterans bring a unique ability to translate strategic visions into actionable outcomes. They are adept at breaking down complex goals into manageable steps, empowering teams to execute effectively. This knack for operationalizing strategy and their natural leadership abilities makes veterans a positive asset to any organization. Here are five great reasons to hire a veteran.
1. Mission-Driven Focus
In the military, every action focuses on meeting the mission and fulfilling requirements. Whether in the military only for a few years or a retiree, regardless of rank or job title, veterans are trained to understand objectives, strategize effectively, and execute under pressure. This focus translates into civilian workplaces, where achieving goals is vital to business success, growth, revenue, team building, and ultimately, job accomplishment. Veterans thrive in environments where they can align team efforts with an overarching mission, ensuring everyone understands their role in achieving success.
2. Resilience Under Pressure
Veterans make quick decisions in high-stakes situations at sea, on land, stateside, or overseas. Decision-making can mean the difference between success and failure. With rigorous training and real-world experiences, a veteran’s resilience enables them to remain calm, think critically, and lead effectively in times of crisis. This ability to handle stress and uncertainty makes them invaluable in the corporate world.
3. Teamwork and Collaboration
Military operations depend on seamless collaboration among diverse teams. Veterans understand the value of teamwork, respect differing opinions and perspectives, and know how to bring together a diverse group of personnel to support organizational and customer requirements. They excel at building trust and creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels empowered to contribute.
4. Adaptability and Innovation
The dynamic nature of military missions demands constant adaptability. Veterans are skilled at analyzing changing conditions and pivoting strategies to meet evolving needs. This adaptability and a bias for action allow them to navigate the complexities of today’s fast-paced business environments.
5. Outstanding Character
Honor, courage, commitment, integrity, reliability, and accountability are character traits in service members. Veterans lead by example, holding themselves and their teams to high ethical standards. Not only do veterans lead by example, but veterans also show up to get the work done. Businesses won’t lose billable hours due to workplace absence due to a strong work ethic. This value-driven leadership inspires loyalty and builds strong organizational cultures.
Overcoming Misconceptions
Despite these advantages, some businesses hesitate to hire veterans due to misconceptions about their adaptability to civilian roles. Concerns about rigid thinking or difficulties transitioning to corporate culture are unfounded. While many leadership styles and approaches exist, organizations may overlook military veterans because hiring managers unfamiliar with military experience may believe the veterans are too controlling and rigid. Veterans have proven their ability to thrive in diverse environments and bring a fresh perspective to problem-solving.
The key is to focus on their transferable skills rather than their military ranks or titles when determining fit and job assignments in an organization. Leadership, mentorship, project and knowledge management, logistics, and communication are some areas where veterans excel. Organizations can better integrate veterans into their workforce by understanding how these skills align with business needs. Veterans have what it takes to meet this challenge. The time to harness their skills is now