Military Leadership: Lessons That Transcend Beyond The Battlefield

As I prepare to take command of a battalion in the Army Reserve, I have been thinking about how I want to lead this new organization. Here are a few thoughts.

As a leader, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day challenges of managing a team. Deadlines, budgets, and performance metrics can consume our attention, and we can forget the importance of positive leadership.

Positive leadership creates a culture of optimism, hope, and resilience that inspires your team to do their best work. It’s about focusing on strengths, rather than weaknesses, and empowering your team to take ownership of their work and achieve their goals. With the current challenges facing the Army Reserve with recruiting and resource availability, this is more important than ever.

Research shows positive leadership directly impacts employee engagement, motivation, and performance. When leaders create a positive work environment, employees are more likely to feel satisfied, committed, and loyal to the organization, which can greatly impact Soldier retention.

Positive leadership also has benefits beyond the workplace. Employees who feel positive about their work are more likely to interact positively with their families, friends, and communities, creating a ripple effect of positivity that spreads beyond the workplace potentially reducing losses due to legal issues or illicit drug use.

As leaders, we create a positive work environment that fosters growth, development, and success. In this coming challenge of command, I have chosen to focus on positivity, to create a culture of greatness that inspires the team to achieve their full potential.

How do you keep a team positive during challenging times?