The military has a lot to teach about leadership

The rudiments of military leadership are no different from the ones of corporate leadership, but there are surely immense differences in the manner they are practised or applied. There are several lessons that can be learnt from military leadership canons and applied to functioning on ground to advantage by the corporate world.

Military leadership is all about motivating others to achieve their objectives by by of demonstration, direction and stimulation. The primary goal of military leadership is to accomplish accomplish the assigned task and concurrently make certain that the welfare of people under and subordinate to you is not dented. In this context, the most principal and important organisational  arrangement that is made use of is the ‘chain of command.’ The word command signifies the authority that is vested in a senior and which is exercised over subordinates by virtue of rank and appointment. The term ‘chain of command’ implies a hierarchy of commanders who have direct command functions and are charged with the responsibility to accomplish all assigned objectives, ensure the welfare of troops and make certain that the equipment held on charge is serviceable at all times. In the light of the foregoing, the functions and duties of a military leader can well be detailed, prescribed,  inferred and even unexpressed.

The issue of morals and ethics in the conduct and implementation of military leadership is very important. More than being talked about, it is the only medium of expression of one’s responsibility. It is practised and examples set for others to follow. Professional military ethics imply a high degree of loyalty to the nation, organisation and your duties. They thus entail immense self-sacrifice and in the process of discharging duties, your personal priority comes last. This can be understood by the following quote of Field Marshal Philip Chetwode and which continues to inspire even today everybody in the armed forces:
“The safety, honour & welfare of your country comes first, always & every time. The honour, welfare & comfort of the men you command, come next. Your own ease, comfort & safety come last, always & every time.”

In order to be able to adhere to ethics like the above, every single person in the military needs to subscribe to four inescapable values:

• Physical and moral courage because they are intrinsic to the role.
• Upfront disposition with everybody.
• Adeptness and skilfulness in discharging duties.
• Commitment to contribute for the accomplishment of all objectives and adherence to organisational values.

If leadership at any level is effective, the outcome will be a high state of morale. Troops will take immense pride in and display a high degree of loyalty to the force thatchy are serving in. They will not shirk from obeying orders and in case orders are not received, appropriate action will nevertheless be taken in organisational interests. In the light of the foregoing, it is no wonder that military leaders stand out for their confidence, courage, rectitude, determination, self-discipline, camaraderie and determination. And that is why the following time-tested tenets have come to be regarded as inescapable:

• Competency and a desire to improve.
• Sound knowledge of juniors and the will to ensure their welfare.
• Timely dissemination of requisite information on a need to know basis.
• Setting and leading by examples.
• Conducting training collectively with juniors to bring about a sense of responsibility.
• Employment of teams to be executed in in accordance with their capacities.
• Seeking additional responsibilities.
• Being answerable and accountable for one’s actions.

All military leaders are responsible for the wellbeing and life of personnel under their command. It is thus essential that they are able to provide direction, purpose and inspiration. To be able to do this, military leaders are of impeccable character who are proficient to resolve intricate issues with quick decisions. 

It is a universal truth that in the armed forces, the dignity of individual soldiers is upheld. When in the presence of troops, an officer will never have his meals before them nor will he retire for rest before they do so. And if a team or a unit is unable to accomplish an objective, leaders do not point fingers at juniors. But more importantly, in all armed forces throughout the world, there is no place for  any prejudice and bias. It is important to ensure that personal needs are moulded in harmony with organisational duties. It is also important that everybody works in organisational interests, and any aberrations are proceeded against strictly. 

Leadership, as practised in the the military can be translated to advantage in the corporate world. If the corporate hierarchy follows the armed forces’ concepts of leadership, there is no reason why individual and organisations will not stand to gain.