How Serving in the Military Prepared Me for Business Leadership — 7 Valuable Lessons I Learned

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How Serving in the Military Prepared Me for Business Leadership — 7 Valuable Lessons I Learned

By Roy Dekel | Edited by Chelse Brown | Entrepreneur Magazine | June 21, 2024

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According to the author, his time in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) profoundly influenced his early development, shaping the leader he is today. From the rigors of basic training to the life-or-death situations on the battlefield, his military experience taught him invaluable lessons — lessons he has successfully translated into a thriving business career.  Nevertheless, according to him by no means, he is trying to directly equate military service with leading a business. Still, there is undoubtedly a vast pool of wisdom and lessons born from military experience yielding significant value in the corporate environment.

1. Clarity of mission.  In the military, success begins with understanding your mission. A well-defined mission provides a clear “North Star,” a guiding light that fuels action and strategy. It drives the “why” behind every order, providing the motivation needed to endure potentially life-threatening scenarios.  Retention of this lesson in business life has allowed the author the clarity of goals.
2. Decisiveness under pressure.  In the military, situations often call for lightning-fast decisions. There is no room for indecisiveness; hesitation can lead to catastrophic outcomes.  The business realm too, though less life-threatening, demands quick decision-making at times. Market conditions can shift rapidly, unexpected situations arise, or difficult choices must be made.  The author’s military life helped him in such scenarios, ensuring prompt and decisive action even under unwanted pressure.
3. Responsibility and accountability.  In the military, responsibility stretched beyond just one’s personal duties — it extended to the lives and welfare of one’s fellow troops. The weight of this responsibility compelled a high degree of accountability.  This degree of accountability has proven necessary in business, especially in starting one.  Being a CEO, your decisions impact not only the financial success of your company but also the livelihoods of all your employees.  This sense of responsibility cultivates an environment of trust and motivates high standards of performance throughout the organization.
4. Adaptability and resilience.  There’s one thing military service undoubtedly forges — resilience.  It trains the individuals to adapt swiftly to changing circumstances and not falter in the face of adversity. Because a failed mission doesn’t have to be the end; it’s a chance to assess, adapt and emerge stronger.  Treating failures as learning opportunities is the cornerstone of business. If this resilience and adaptability extend to your employees, they will effortlessly promote a culture of constant improvement, even in the face of adversity.
5. Precise communication.  Explicit communication is life-or-death in military. No one has time for ambiguity because it’s so good at forging misunderstandings and risking lives and missions. Through his military training, the author has honed his communication skills to be precise, clear and straightforward.  In business, he has found clear communication to be an equally invaluable asset. Be it articulating strategic vision, delegating tasks or giving feedback, precise communication ensures that everyone is on the same page, fostering a harmonious, efficient work environment.
6. Mentoring and developing leaders.  The military is the perfect place to learn all the things he has mentioned, and to teach them.  In the IDF, he was taught to identify potential, nurture skills and empower individuals — priming them to take up leadership positions in the future.  With this insight from the military, he always strives to mentor team leaders and open himself to the learning opportunities they bring.
7. Teamwork and cohesion.  Last, but definitely a highlight, military service engrains a profound sense of camaraderie. There is a shared commitment to accomplish the mission you’re all in. It’s about team over individual — an ethos pivotal to success on the battlefield.

3 key takeaways from the article

1. The author’s time in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) profoundly influenced his early development, shaping the leader he is today. From the rigors of basic training to the life-or-death situations on the battlefield, his military experience taught him invaluable lessons — lessons he has successfully translated into a thriving business career.  
2. Some of these lessons are: clarity of mission, decisiveness under pressure, responsibility and accountability, adaptability and resilience, precise communication, mentoring and developing leaders, and teamwork and cohesion.
3. Nevertheless, according to him by no means, he is trying to directly equate military service with leading a business. Still, there is undoubtedly a vast pool of wisdom and lessons born from military experience yielding significant value in the corporate environment.

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Topics:  Entrepreneurship, Business, Team, Military, IDF