“How would you like to work for me?”
The question caught me a little by surprise. I was still in uniform. I wasn’t exactly looking for a job outside the military – retirement was still on the horizon. But what really struck me was that the offer was going to take me into a profession where I had no true experience: higher education. Specifically, teaching in a business school.
I told her the same thing I’ve told countless others since then: “I don’t exactly have a background in business.”
“We’ll figure it out,” she replied. And we did.
THe Utility Infielder
If there’s one thing you gain from military service, it’s experience. The longer you serve, the more varied those experiences become. Every new assignment brings new adventures that test us in ways we often don’t see coming. While our first responsibility is to lead, we’re also communicators, counselors, coaches, project managers, data analysts, and everything in between.
We’re utility infielders.
As someone later said to me, “I know I can put you at any position and you’ll play hard every inning.” That’s high praise, but it reflects a lifetime of on-the-job learning and more mistakes than I could list in a single article. Just like a utility infielder exists to provide flexible options to the manager of a baseball team, military service – which often casts a broad generalist net in our path – is often about filling capability and capacity gaps in any organization you land. The more able someone is to move from role to role, the greater their value to the organization as a whole. The utility infielder gives the leadership more options, greater flexibility, and consistent performance.
Taking the Field
The most challenging aspect of transition, regardless of the direction your transition takes you, is landing a roster position – getting your foot in the door with a new role. Once you achieve that, your success is often more a factor of how well you integrate with the team than the skills that may have put you on the field.
As I assumed a new role in completely different professional field, I leaned heavily into Marshall Goldsmith’s 2007 book, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. Writing for business professionals seeking to elevate their leadership game, Goldsmith emphasizes interpersonal behavior over technical skill – being the type of leader others want to emulate: goal-oriented but not obsessed; humble and empathetic; and optimistic yet realistic.
Goldsmith’s core philosophy may have been intended for business leaders, but it spoke to me, too. In military parlance, I was the FNG. I had to earn my right to play each and every day, and that meant translating three decades of military experience into a value proposition for an entirely new team.
Lead By EXample
Author, ethnographer, and leadership expert Simon Sinek published a book a few years ago titled, Leaders Eat Last. On the surface, the main point seems obvious – it’s advice we’ve all heard and most of us follow. In practice, there’s far more to the concept than waiting for everyone else to eat before you fill your plate. It’s about setting a positive example for others.
From the first day we put on the uniform, we hear those three words: Lead by example. They are, without a doubt, the three most important words in the vast lexicon of leadership. Those three words reflect our values, professional ethic, and moral code. If you truly lead by example, you don’t need any other words.
Those three words – and what they represent – also underpin the behaviors that Goldsmith addresses in his book. They offer a concrete means to translate your military experience into business leadership.
1. Leaders eat last.
It’s more than the catchy title of a great book. It’s about selflessness and sacrifice. It’s putting the needs of your people first and ensuring they have what they need to succeed. Lead by example: be the leader they choose to follow.
2. Words and deeds.
Don’t mince words. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Stand up for people and for what’s right. Your words and actions must always be in concert – if you say it, do it.
3. Get a life.
There is more to work than, well… work. Find a hobby. Enjoy the little things in life. Spend time with your family. Celebrate the world around you. Doing so speaks louder than words, especially to those watching.
4. Keep calm and lead on.
Maintaining your cool when the pressure’s on sets a lasting example. The old advertising slogan “Never let ‘em see you sweat” was simple, direct, and spot on. Keep your cool, don’t raise your voice unless you absolutely have to, and steer the ship through the storm.
5. Stay fit.
Eat right, play hard, and rest well. You’re only issued one body in this life; take care of yourself physically and maintain a standard that others can emulate. It carries the added benefit of being good for you.
6. Never quit.
If you’re going to do something, give it your best effort and stay with it until the very end. You might not always come out ahead, but the effort and the attitude set a strong example for others.
7. Work smarter, not harder.
We have a tendency to admire problems rather than solve them. Take the time to think through a problem before starting work. Time and people are your most valuable resources. Use them wisely.
8. Risk is part of the job.
My mantra has always been, “risk is a potent catalyst that fuels opportunity.” Be the leader who embraces risk and uncertainty – you don’t succeed in life by not taking chances.
9. Trust is a two-way street.
Give trust, earn trust. If you trust someone enough to assign them a task, trust them with the authority to make decisions and empower them to assume reasonable risks. In turn, they will reward you with their trust.
10. When in charge, take charge.
Even when you’re not in charge. You don’t have to hold a position of authority to lead. You’re a leader. Lead. It doesn’t get much more basic than that.
A wise leader once counseled me to “always remember that your troops are watching.” The same holds true outside the installation gates. Others will always be watching you to see how you carry yourself, how you react, how you lead. They see everything you do, hear everything you say, and read everything you write (or post). Be someone they want to follow.
