Transitioning from military service to a civilian job comes with unique challenges, one of which is adjusting to a variety of leadership styles. Veterans are accustomed to a chain of command and mission-focused leadership, but civilian workplaces often operate differently. The mentality of ‘execute now’, ‘mission-over-self’, or ‘everyone is a cog’ is not conducive to a more sensitive work environment of understanding and acceptance.
A new approach
Consider a new perspective; not every ‘operation’ or ‘task’ needs to have an element of stress or pressure. In the civilian workforce, we are not preparing subordinates to accomplish simple tasks in a potentially life-or-death situation. As the youth say these days, ‘It’s not that deep’. Understanding these styles can help veterans navigate their new environments with confidence.
1. Authoritarian Leadership
Potentially the closest to a militaristic leadership style, this approach is characterized by clear, top-down decision-making. Leaders retain significant control and provide specific instructions to their teams, much like a military chain of command.
- Pros: Authoritarian leadership may feel familiar to veterans, as it mirrors the structured, mission-focused environment of the military. It provides clear expectations and defined roles, ensuring accountability and efficiency.
- Cons: In the civilian sector, authoritarian leadership may lack the flexibility and collaborative nature valued in modern workplaces. It can feel stifling for employees who thrive on creative input or autonomous decision-making. This style contributes to high turnover rates in employees.
- Advice for Veterans: Veterans can thrive under this style by leveraging their adaptability to execute tasks effectively. However, they should also look for opportunities to contribute ideas and demonstrate how teamwork can enhance the mission. Remember, this is no longer a train-to-fight career. If this style doesn’t suit your desired workplace, you can speak up, and you can step away.
2. Democratic Leadership
Democratic, sometimes called ‘participative’, leadership emphasizes collaboration, with leaders seeking input from their teams before making decisions. This style values diverse perspectives and encourages open communication.
- Pros: This approach fosters teamwork, inclusion, and a sense of shared responsibility. Veterans, who often have experience working in diverse teams, may appreciate the emphasis on collective effort.
- Cons: For those used to quick decision-making in high-stakes situations, the slower, consensus-driven pace of democratic leadership can feel inefficient or frustrating.
- Advice for Veterans: Veterans should embrace the opportunity to share their insights while learning from the perspectives of others. Patience and openness to different viewpoints can help them thrive in this collaborative environment. This particular style may cause some stress and anxiety for those freshly introduced to the civilian workforce. It can be a far shot from what a veteran is used to in their past life.
3. Laissez-Faire Leadership
Laissez-faire leaders take a hands-off approach, giving employees significant autonomy to manage their work. Leaders intervene only when necessary or when guidance is requested.
- Pros: This style fosters innovation and independence, allowing employees to take ownership of their tasks and develop their skills. This style allows employees to feel empowered and trusted by the organization’s leadership.
- Cons: Veterans accustomed to structured guidance may find this approach challenging, as it can feel like a lack of direction or support. This style can also lead to a lack of clarity in roles, leadership, and task order. If not supervised correctly, this style can also lead to burnout of employees.
- Advice for Veterans: Veterans can use their self-discipline and initiative to excel under laissez-faire leadership. When clarity is needed, they should feel empowered to seek guidance and advocate for the resources required to complete their work. Be careful with leaning into old habits or stepping into a leadership vacuum. Although this strategy was beneficial and expected during military service, this is not the environment to fill the ‘gap’ in leadership.
4. Transformational Leadership
Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their teams to work toward a shared vision. They focus on growth, innovation, and achieving long-term goals. These teams generally have high emotional intelligence and are found to be highly adaptive, and humble.
- Pros: This style aligns well with the mission-driven mentality many veterans carry from their military service. It creates a sense of purpose and encourages personal and professional growth. Motivating employees to perform with change in mind is developmental to encouraging empathetic and purpose-driven leadership.
- Cons: If the vision is not well-communicated or resources are insufficient, veterans may feel frustrated or overwhelmed. Losing focus on the mission will feel like a critical loss if the only emphasis is creating change. Veterans need a clear objective on how to accomplish the mission/
- Advice for Veterans: Veterans should channel their leadership experience to actively support the organization’s vision. By helping others see their role in achieving that vision, they can become key contributors to the team’s success.
5. Transactional Leadership
Transactional leadership focuses on performance, with rewards and punishments tied to specific outcomes. It emphasizes structured roles, processes, and measurable results. Leaders using this style will work with employees to create long and short-term goals, but will also hold them accountable on those failures or successes in meeting those goals. This style is useful in retail, sales, and food services, but can be detrimental in other fields.
- Pros: Veterans may find this style comfortable due to its focus on discipline, accountability, and achieving defined goals. It provides clarity on expectations and deliverables. Money and recognition are generally used as rewards.
- Cons: This approach can feel rigid or uninspiring, particularly for those seeking opportunities for innovation or personal development. Some leaders may focus too much on short-term goals, which loses emphasis on the long-term. Not a good environment for innovation or anticipating problems.
- Advice for Veterans: Veterans should focus on delivering results while seeking ways to demonstrate initiative and leadership. Advocating for mentorship and development opportunities can help them grow within this structured environment. Keep track of all goals on your own and celebrate the wins, big or small. Make your mental health a priority.
6. Servant Leadership
Servant leaders prioritize the needs of their team above their own, focusing on fostering trust, empathy, and individual growth. They lead by serving others and empowering their team members. Humility, empathy, compassion, integrity, and empowerment or foundational values to the servant leader.
- Pros: This approach creates a supportive environment where employees feel valued and motivated. It aligns well with veterans’ experience in mentorship and taking care of their team. This style helps create a meaningful work environment and allows employees to shine without a supervisor taking credit for the ‘wins’. A great environment if you need feedback regularly.
- Cons: Veterans may find this style unfamiliar, as it shifts focus from hierarchical authority to a more egalitarian dynamic. It requires a shift in mindset for those accustomed to traditional command structures. This style can be frustrating due to extended decision-making times, it is hard to retrain someone with this mentality, and sometimes the servant leader can be perceived as weak.
- Advice for Veterans: Veterans should embrace the emphasis on well-being and team cohesion, using their own experience in mentorship to contribute to the team’s success. By demonstrating empathy and collaboration, they can thrive under servant leadership.
Understanding different leadership styles can help veterans manage expectations and adjust their approach to the civilian workforce. While some styles may feel familiar, others may challenge veterans to adapt and grow. By recognizing and aligning with these styles, veterans can leverage their military experience to excel in any workplace.
Don’t go in blind
Consider asking the style of leadership in the office when interviewing for a position. Take time after the interview to research that style and see if it will fit your personality. Do not try and shoehorn yourself into an environment that is not flexible to you as a person, fresh or experienced outside of the military. Your job’s work environment will be a place that you need to be present in potentially daily, so make sure that it fits and that you are a good fit. Ensure that you are doing mental health check-ins to make sure you are not just accumulating frustrations.
If you do find an opportunity that is not only a great work environment but has a great leadership team, congratulations. Your next step is to continue to adapt and progress. Find a mentor, learn your own unique leadership style, and then find your own perfect fit and you will succeed.
