Character Counts: Acquisition of New Talent In the Workplace

Obviously, there’s a tremendous difference between what takes place out on the battlefield and in the office. During times of war, valiant men and women voluntarily place themselves in harm’s way for the betterment of their country. Needless to say, even the most dire of workplace circumstances pale in comparison with the day-to-day lives of those serving in the Armed Forces.

That said, nearly all workplaces, regardless of industry, have plenty of room for improvement. Because of this, it’s a good idea to look towards an experienced soldier’s characteristics for a blueprint of fulfilling your specific office needs, especially when new hires are being made.

Think about it—soldiers must be mentally sharp, physically able and confident in their ability to function at a high level in stressful situations. Similarly, the best of on-staff employees routinely meet deadlines, deal with uncooperative coworkers and handle unforeseen office challenges. But there’s more here than meets the eye—employees that are fully onboard with a company’s goals not only help a business in the ways of profitability, but provide for the best possible working environment.

In fact, reports Rob Goffee of the Harvard Business Review, “Companies with highly engaged people outperform firms with the most disengaged folks—by 54 percent in employee retention, by 89 percent in customer satisfaction and by fourfold in revenue growth.”

The only problem with all of this? Though nearly all soldiers are dependable, loyal and highly efficient, great professional talent is extremely hard to come by. Once again, while there’s certainly a difference of importance between the two groups’ ultimate purposes, far more parallels exist between soldiers and your group of employees than you might’ve originally thought.

So, the next time you’re tasked with the acquisition of top-tier workplace expertise, make sure to look to the real-life soldiers who maintain the very liberties that allow you to run your own business as you please. Simply put, here’s what to look for:

Confident, but Coachable

Great leaders recognize that, though in a position to tell others what to do, there may be times when it’s best to be a follower. This applies to both the battlefield and office.

Additionally, while confidence is by far one of the most noticeable traits found in a leader, there’s something to be said for being coachable and willing to learn at all times. Basically, exemplary leaders—the kind people aren’t forced to follow, but choose to follow—recognize that the learning process is a continual one. They embrace it. More importantly they model it.

Discovering Hidden Ingenuity

Believe it or not, soldiers in the Armed Forces are encouraged to have fear. With that in mind, however, it’s made abundantly clear to them that fears are never to impede them from performing their designated tasks in a thorough and timely manner.

Now to the business side of things—clearly, it’s important that a soon-to-be employee be excited about the chance to work for your company. Whatever his or her assigned tasks may be, it’s key that there be ample room for an employee to further develop a skill set. As such, there will be no room for restrictive comfort zones in your working environment. Make certain a candidate is aware of this.

Independence and Adaptability

There’s a reason Peter Drucker, a well-known, Austrian-born American management consultant, once famously said, “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” When receiving orders before, during or after combat, soldiers are often asked to effectively read between the lines of the audible instructions given them and immediately implement the best strategies.

Needless to say, the ability to think independently and adapt a course of action—all while making certain that initial orders are followed as closely as possible—is vital for workplace success. While meeting with a candidate, it might be a good idea to ask a series of situational questions to gauge his or her ability to take instruction and use it the smartest way possible.

Open, Uninhibited Communication

Along the lines of the aforementioned point, in the most threatening of situations or when dealing with high-ranking officers and government agencies, there can be no hesitation when it comes to transmitting messages.

Your next employee will need comparable skills in the office. Truthfully, it’s nearly impossible to understate the importance of proper communication between management and those whom carry out their many strategies.

The inability to do this well could easily result in the loss of team morale, productivity and even profits. Pay special attention to the way that a candidate answers your specific questions. Are they being danced around or directly addressed? Either way, solid communication is a must in the office.

Modest Reliability

The best soldiers always play the part of the consummate, quiet professional. They’re not loud, cumbersome or intrusive. Instead, they prefer to do their job well and accept credit only when it’s rightfully given them. Quiet confidence makes for a stellar employee.

During an interview, look for a candidate who’s verbally modest when speaking of his or her ability, allowing for a robust portfolio and relevant work experience to speak for themselves. In business, it’s always best to under-promise and over-deliver. Your best interviewees know this and will do the exact same thing when meeting with you.

At the end of the day, people can’t be compartmentalized. Each person is different and comes with his or her own unique set of strengths and weaknesses. Now, it’s your job to find the best way to arrange each individual piece of your team to get the most out of them.

Fortunately, you have the power to control who gets to become a part of what you’re building. Looking to the admirable men and women and who keep you and your family safe on a continual basis, you’ll be able to see clearly more of what you want from incoming talent, but also yourself.

---

Wes Kennedy is a former Canadian Special Forces Operator and the founder of several businesses, including Kinetic Results Consulting Group. Wes provide business owners with a road map and guidance to create a predictably profitable business that runs without them.