WHY IS LEADERSHIP STYLE SO IMPORTANT IN THE MILITARY?

While exemplary leadership is crucial in any sector, military leaders are well-known for a unique style that can achieve results that can often have global consequences.

In most roles, impactful decisions must be made on-the-spot and leaders must be able to rely on a team that can respect their position and follow high-pressure orders. This responsibility extends from administration staff through to those on the front line whose decision-making process can often mean the difference between life and death.

In most areas within the military, there is zero room for conflict or error.  The stakes are high, and military teams must be motivated to make the best decisions for themselves, their leaders and their country.

WHAT MAKES A MILITARY LEADER?

Regardless of the role, when adopting their position, military personnel all agree to serve their country. Leaders are self-sacrificing and willing to put their country, their families and indeed their own team before themselves. And as we know, this example starts at the top.

Typically, the following qualities are present in military leaders:

• Strong work ethic
• Can manage their stress effectively
• High-level risk assessment skills
• Inclusive
• Ability to make difficult decisions under pressure
• Confident and self-motivated

When we talk about military leadership, two conflicting leadership styles are used interchangeably to achieve results.

TRANSACTIONAL LEADERSHIP

Transactional leadership focusses on short term goals. There is a clear hierarchy in operation that must be respected. Micromanaging can be popular within this style. Structure, culture and goal-dependent are prevailing factors in transactional leadership, a style that is often inflexible.

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

While transactional leadership focusses on incentives and punishment for achieving or failing to meet targets, when the task is life or death, as it can be in the military, these incentives can have little impact.

And this is where transformational leadership becomes extremely relevant.

At the other end of the scale, transformational leadership gives more freedom to individuals. It’s more communicative, visionary, focussed on the team and is deep-rooted in change for the wider organisation. Importance is also placed on leading by example. The team also has a responsibility to create solutions to problems rather than just being told what to do.

Transformational leadership is proven to be the most suitable leadership style to increase morale and motivation within a military environment undoubtedly leading to improved performance.

A transformational approach inspires the team and relies on the leader to communicate well to encourage cooperation and improve coordination. To become a leader in the military, personnel must have worked their way up through the ranks. This understanding of how the system works and the unique style is vital to creating trust within a transformational team.

While a transformational style is most common within the military, both leadership styles are relevant and can be used interchangeably depending on roles, responsibilities and perhaps the most significant…risk.

HOW IS MILITARY LEADERSHIP RELEVANT IN A PRIVATE WORKPLACE?

Military trained leaders are considered an excellent asset to any private workplace.

In the everyday workplace, it’s unlikely that staff have pledged allegiance that may involve them putting the welfare of their customers and team above their own. As such, it can be hard to apply leadership styles to a non-military environment, but there are key takeaways that are helpful to all leaders across all sectors and workplaces.

• A combination of leadership styles is relevant

While some workplaces may favour transactional leaderships and others benefit from a more transformational approach, it’s important to understand that there’s no one size fits all in most workplaces. Every leader must be adaptable and willing to shift styles depending on staff personality and corporate goals.

• Identifying key motivators will help define leadership style

If a staff member is there simply to do their job and collect their wages as many rightfully are, they’re more likely to respond better to transactional leadership where rewards and punishment are used.

If they have a bigger vision for the company and themselves, transformational leadership that focusses on change is more appropriate. Staff motivators must be identified to find out someone’s core motive for coming to the workplace each day and a range of methods applied as appropriate.

• Flexibility is key

A leader has an inherent personality that will naturally define their leadership style in the workplace. A good leader will remain flexible and alter their fundamental style based on the personality and short and long-term goals of the individual.

• Putting the team before themselves

Military leaders are taught to sacrifice. They are willing to defend their team and country at all costs. It is this self-sacrifice that guarantees trust among a team and, therefore, performance. While this doesn’t need to be life and death scenario, when a team member knows that a leader has their back and will defend them at all costs, this will usually lead to staff doing whatever it takes to get the job done well.

While the military leadership style is unique to the sector, core elements do apply to yours and every other industry.

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