Winning Traits in Business

In any business, one must undertake an appropriate mindset that allows for the ability to plan, organize, strategize and execute.  These visionary tools are a necessity in order to even consider developing and growing a properous business.  Of course, there are no guarantees that prosperity will find its way to your business, however, doing nothing to develop and enhance the growth of your business may not be to your best advantage, to say it mildly.  

The below article addresses the utilization of attributes from the military, exemplied by the greatest leaders and defenders of liberty in the world.  It is no surprise why veterans have very substantial businesses.  Even in business, we can be proud to be Americans.  We have great examples to follow! 

courtesy of  DT

5 Military Traits for Being Successful in Business

By Barbara Weltman

According to the SBA, 9% of all U.S. firms are veteran-owned, which is a substantial representation in the business world. Why are veterans so successful in business? Perhaps it's that their military training can be applied to business. Here is my take on the traits that serve veteran-owners well; non-veterans can emulate these characteristics to ensure success.

1. Leadership

Military personnel learn to make command decisions under pressure. They take control and exhibit confidence that inspires others to follow.

Leadership in the military is used within the context of a team; it is meant to foster teamwork. This view of leadership is helpful in business as well, where teams are used for such purposes as sales and innovation.

2. Planning

Military personnel must develop a plan of action. Officers are educated in military history and use what they learn to assess risk and create new plans.

The military uses the P-A-C-E planning system, which takes its name from four different levels of plans: Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency. The primary plan may not work out, but the objective can still be achieved by implementing fallback options.

3. Execution

Once there is a plan, it must be executed swiftly and efficiently. It is possible to practice execution skills and improve your ability to put a plan into action. In the military, war games and drills help soldiers to learn how things should be done right - and how to prepare for what can go wrong. Practice in business, such as sales training, can be invaluable to your staff.

Part of planning and execution in the military is follow-up. The military uses an After Action Review (AAR) to analyze what has happened, whether it went well, what went wrong, and what could be improved for future actions.

4. Communication skills

Military personnel know how to give directives so that plans are carried out. They learn to be respectful of others and use this when criticizing others.

They share their "intel" (intelligence) so that others within their group have the same facts at their disposal. This improved communication also facilities teamwork.

5. Honor

In the military, honor means being truthful and taking responsibility for actions. It is a characteristic that is highly valued, and all personnel are expected to act honorably.

Conclusion

Obviously, not everyone in the military possesses all of these admirable traits. Often we associate many of them with officers, but enlisted men and women may be just as likely to demonstrate these characteristics. As business people we should strive to adopt some of the revered military behavior and attitudes that can serve us well in business.

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