As many future members and leaders in the national security career field are crossing the stage to get their high school diploma or college degree, I want to share some lessons I have learned working across the U.S. government in various military, diplomatic, and intelligence roles.
Mistakes Happen
You will make mistakes. Learn from them. If you are new to an organization, you are expected to make some mistakes…but don’t make a habit of it. The good bosses will let you move forward from your mistakes, the other ones may not. Understand your situation and plan accordingly. Most of your teammates will be happy to talk you through any missions or tasks that are new to you.
Lift your partners
Don’t be the guy who won’t help his peers. If all the leaders in your unit succeed, your entire organization achieves the mission faster. There will be times that you are the expert among your peers, so give up your time to ensure everyone else rises to your level. As you move up the ranks, your reputation, as a team player or a selfish one, will follow you.
Be confident, not cocky
You can be both humble and confident at the same time. Just don’t take it to extremes and seem meek or cocky. Your sense of humor and some self-deprecation goes a long way towards finding that balance. If you are approachable and calm, your peers and teammates will respect it.
Open your mind and close your mouth
Learn from your experienced teammates and even your younger folks. College doesn’t make you wiser than any of your team members, but it should make you more open-minded. The folks in your organization might have experienced trials that you’ve never imagined. Take advantage of all wisdom you can get.
Care
Take care of your people. Reward your best folks with time off, bonuses, or awards. Time off is often one thing you can control and give to them immediately. Take time to take care of yourself—you are no good to your team if you are sick, tired, or distracted. You need time off too. Take care of your loved ones. The national security realm can be a 24/7 mission. Your family and friends will have to get used to your hours and long absences. Find small and big ways to help them cope.
Be curious
Ask questions when you don’t understand. Read about your missions and other leaders that have held your position—in all kinds of career fields. Many of the best lessons about how to accomplish you jobs are already catalogued in books, articles, and blogs. If you lose your curiosity about your mission and how to develop solutions, it might be time to get another job.
Be daring but not reckless
National Security missions can be dangerous, and organizations don’t always change with the times. In dangerous places lead by example and take chances when it really matters to the mission. That doesn’t mean you can act without planning or thinking. In most of your daily work, daring might simply be to challenge the status quo when it is holding your people back. Again, approach the bureaucracy with a plan so you don’t get fired for being insubordinate.
Have a financial plan for your life
When you get started with your career, you probably won’t make a lot of money. But start to plan for your future early on. Investments and having some savings for leaner times is a smart move, and you can start small. At some point you will transition from your organization to another, and eventually into retirement. But if you don’t plan early on—you will retire later than those that did.
Have some fun
National Security work can include some of the craziest jobs you have never imagined. When you are given a mission try to find ways to keep the morale of your unit up. You are allowed to have fun even under the most serious of conditions. You will likely develop a bit of a warped sense of humor as you work with seasoned teammates. Laughter can truly help you all through.
Always have a plan for your future
Think about where you want to be one year, five years and ten years from the present. Know the options available to you in your career field. Don’t hold too tightly to one career path—if someone closes a door in your face then take the crazy assignments that others are afraid of. You won’t know how to do every job you are given. You will learn eventually and those crazy assignments may change your life. I took a lot of them and absolutely loved my career.
