4 business management lessons from the military

4 business management lessons from the military

4 business management lessons from the military

When I was a kid, I didn’t want to be a businessman when I grew up; I wanted to be a soldier. So that’s what I did.

While serving as an Army officer, I was exposed to some amazing leaders and great leadership lessons. Since leaving the Army, I’ve seen those lessons are just as applicable in the private sector and would like to briefly share a few.

1. Give people a purpose.

Giving employees a task is easy. Giving them a purpose is harder, but much more important. Your employees need to understand the why much more than the what.

In the Army, mission orders consist of both a task and purpose. Emphasis is put on the purpose through the “commander’s intent” statement. Giving soldiers a purpose enables them to be flexible and adjust to changing conditions on the battlefield, while still accomplishing the overall intent of their mission.

Think about how your management team gives out assignments. If the only reason an employee knows why they are doing something is “because I was told to,” you may have a problem. Help put their tasks, large and small, in context of your larger organizational mission and situation. As an added benefit, in addition to giving them flexibility, purpose can help increase engagement and lead to more profits.

2. Be precise when you communicate.

Precisely communicating the intent of a mission in the military is extremely important.

For example, there is a difference between attacking an enemy and assaulting one. The differences are subtle and nuanced, but exist nonetheless. Faint variations of language can lead to a big difference in meaning and interpretation.

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