“I just want things to be normal and easy. Like they were. I’m so tired.” – One of my clients when I asked how his business is going.
Since the COVID pandemic in 2020, it seems like there has been one thing after another. Supply chain disruptions, pandemics, inflation, politics, and a seemingly endless parade of natural disasters.
Hoping for “normal” is not a strategy for success. Building a team built to survive any storm is a much better idea.
Build a team that can thrive in chaos. Market opportunities will present themselves during any crisis and you will have the resilience and agility to take advantage of them. You will win if your team can sail in weather that keeps your competition hunkered down in port.
Here is the cheat code on how to hire for agility and resilience: Hire military Veterans.
This is one of the reasons many of the best-run companies in hire Veterans for their organization. Companies like Amazon, Walmart, Bank of America, and Home Depot have all seen the positive business results Veterans can deliver and have hired thousands of former service members. They value the leadership experience, training, maturity, and work ethic they bring.
That was during ordinary times.
In extraordinary times, Veterans can be the difference between continuing as a company and going out of business.
Here are ten reasons why:
1. Broad and deep skill sets. In times of economic uncertainty, organizations must run as lean as possible. Employees who can wear different hats provide more value than employees who cannot. Veterans come equipped with multiple competencies such as leadership, training, and project management, and bring a depth of experience. Veterans are unlikely to say, “That’s not my job” when asked to get something done that might not be in their job description.
2. They have been tested in the crucible already. Basic Training is designed to train service members for resilience and the ability to push through hardships – to show them their capabilities beyond what they ever thought possible. Elite military schools like Rangers or BUDs (SEAL training) are designed to be more difficult than actual combat situations. Real-world experiences in the military are far tougher and more demanding than anything your company is likely to see. Why wouldn’t you hire someone battle-tested in some of the toughest environments in the world?
3. Leaders first. Leaders lead. Managers manage. In times of crisis, your company needs strong leaders who can build cohesive teams and get the most out of them. They can filter out the distractions and focus on what is important now. They know a good plan executed well now is better than a great plan executed months from now. They lead from the front – not from the back office. Your employees want strong leadership in times of crisis - not managers.
4. Leaders at all levels. Leadership experience starts early in a military career. Service members have often led small teams while still in their teens or early twenties – far in advance of their civilian counterparts. Your critical first-tier managers – shift supervisors, team leads, and superintendents can be hired with years of experience leading people with decades ahead of them to work for you.
5. Mission-driven. Military leaders are focused on accomplishing the mission – often with limited or no direction on how to get something done. They will balance the needs of their troops vs. accomplishing the task at hand and are willing to sacrifice personal comfort to do so. They will work the problem using available tools – not sit idle wishing for more resources. This could be a critical skill in the months and years to come for business.
6. Process-oriented. One of the key aspects of the military is building repeatable processes – from how to maintain equipment, to checklists ensuring steps are not missed. Teams are constantly reviewing and refining how they can perform better and take lessons learned to future engagements. They are trained to keep the operation moving forward consistently despite a constantly changing team as people rotate in and out. When there is no defined process, they will experiment and find the best way forward.
7. Risk mitigation. There are elements of military service that are not risk-free – jumping out of airplanes, a carrier flight deck, mid-air refueling, or flying helicopters at night feet above the trees. Military leaders work to mitigate operational risks, protect their people and assets, and make smart decisions after evaluating expected risks vs. rewards. They can build strategies for an array of if/then scenarios and plan accordingly to react to changing conditions. Many businesses took advantage of this skill to stay operational during the pandemic.
8. Bridge builders. The US military reflects the best the US has to offer. They have been trained to work together across “tribal” lines and build “teams of teams” working to get the job done. The military is also one of the most diverse organizations in the world and military members are used to and comfortable working with people from different backgrounds.
9. Mental Agility. The military experience is about thinking on your feet and adapting to new situations. Service members are routinely exposed to new roles and responsibilities. This forces them to learn and adapt quickly to new situations. This is an important skill companies need right now – especially if they are required to pivot their business in a new direction.
10. Your leadership bench will get much deeper. Even now, organizations need to be thinking long-term about what comes next – whether next quarter or the next decade. Do they have a good succession plan in place? Do they have the right skills to face whatever black swan event is next? Having a deep bench of experienced leaders to rely on will give them the ability to adapt and flourish for decades to come.
At The Rivet Group, I have worked with hundreds of companies to hire transitioning service members. I’ve gotten feedback ranging from “Best hire in my career” to “Outperforming employees who have been here for decades.” If you want to hear some of their success stories, I have many I can share with you.
If your company is ready to hire – whether it’s Veterans or experienced civilian professionals I can help.
Reach out to me at www.rivetgroupllc.com to learn more.
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