A survey conducted by Monster (2012), reveal that military veterans have a lot of difficulty finding civilian jobs due to the complex nature of the transition from military life. Transition from the military to the civilian work place comes with various challenges. One of the ways of overcoming this challenge is by first realizing that most military skills like leadership, poise flexibility in planning and expertise translate to the civilian workforce. There is no much difference in communication skills used in the civilian and military despite the difference in environment and the people. However, there are certain aspects of communications that apply in the military environment which do not exist in the civilian work environment. Therefore, some soldiers might find it hard to adjust to the new environment.
Difficulty in adjustment may be due to the culture shocks that come with socio-cultural differences between the identities of soldiers and civilians. Some of the military training emphasizes on effective communication between peers and senior officers in the military. For instance, saluting officers in a requirement to show respect, no one is required to question seniors and peers should be addressed like relatives. These communication styles are not mostly applicable in the civilian environment and a proper transition is required. As Hauck (2014) mentions, words are powerful in any kind of relationships and can either be effective in passing messages or disastrous. Therefore, the process of communication skills modification to suit a civilian work environment is critical to maintain healthy relationships. This essay highlights communication and management skills taught in the military that are relevant for non-military environments. It also gives the proper modes of transitioning from military communication to civilian communication.
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Managing Effective Relationship in Non-Military Environments.
Communication Skills
Soldiers are taught to protect the lives of their team members through effective communication. The training emphasizes on giving instructions, directing patrols and delivering orders. This communication skills ensure that soldiers can effectively talk to various people in the service. Despite the various ranks, soldiers are required to approach soldiers above and below their ranks with respect. Veterans usually get into a civilian environment having been used to do what they are told and respecting the authority. Since the civilian environment is not as strict as the military environment, veterans tend to feel a sense of relief. Following instructions from superiours, leaders or accommodating other peoples’ ideas will be easy. Besides, most communications will be primarily to protect relationships and for the best interest of the people they interact with as it is always done in the military. Veterans are also in a better position to tailor the type of communication to suit the type of environment they are talking in or the type of people they are addressing.
Management Skills
Soldiers are taught how to organize other people, equipments and the environment they manage. This skill is important in conserving time and resources when dealing with people. In The US army, every soldier has to be accountable for their actions whenever things go astray. Mistakes happen especially when dealing with people. Admitting to a mistake saves situations and preserves relationships although it is not easy. Aspects like team work, flexible management and integrity are key subsets in the management skills. The military service also gives experience to soldiers to handle changes in different circumstances and accepting that things don't always happen as planned. Soldiers are also used to collaborating with each other in every assignment. Besides, the discipline to handle tasks effectively is also emphasized in the military.
These aspects of the management skill are important in interpersonal relationships as well as team leadership. This skill helps in paying attention to people, valuing people's resources, being selfless and showing gratitude. Proper management of relationships establishes mutual respect for people and also builds trust. Furthermore, it is easier to influence change, motivate people, direct cross-functional groups and resolve conflicts in any environment.
Ideas for Proper Transition
According to Woog (2018), the primary hint to communication transition is to lay down priorities. Civilian work requires loyalty, persuasion and a certain level of endurance. Despite the harsh experience they might have gone through in the past, the reality is that veterans are out of the military camps and they are united with people in a common work place who do not understand any of their experiences in service. Thus, professionalism is key. An ex-soldier must learn to focus only on important points during communication. A lot of employers value quick communications that deliver the message directly. This skill of briefness is also well taught in the military. Therefore it can be easy to implement in a civilian workplace. It is essential to plan in advance the message to be communicated and closely analyse key ideas to determine relevant points that should be included and what needs to be omitted (Hauck, 2014).
Woog (2018) also emphasizes that veterans should research the appropriate communication skills in the civilian work environment for productive and effective communication. Staying informed primarily means researching on the way the company works, finding out the role of the specific job position, discovering areas in communication that should be perfected and also going with the flow of the conversation by only giving opinions and comments were necessary. Furthermore, mastering the hierarchy of communication in the organization will help avoid loopholes in the work environment that would sabotage efforts of coordination.
Building on listening skills is one of the subset to effective communication transitioning. A complete communication in a civilian workplace is two-sided. It not only makes people more productive but also enhances a good resonance between colleagues. Listening is one of the skills that is developed in the early stages of the military career by making enquiries to help identify challenges experienced before providing a solution. It is also effective in following orders from the seniors. Proper listening is vital in that it helps one not to attach emotions to the conversation. Besides, it is also fundamental in customer relations and avoiding possible costly mistakes that may arise due to misunderstood instructions. According to Farley (2018), active listening habits include shifting focus from self to other people, focusing on the message rather than peoples’ interests, avoiding interactions and habits of completing other people’s sentences. Furthermore, a good listener has to inquire relevant follow up questions on the topic of discussion.
It is vital for veterans to reset their expectations. Communication in a civilian work environment can be made effective through mutual understanding. Besides, things don’t get done instantly, and most of the work requires slow progress through communication and coordination. Trying different approaches of communication is also helpful. The individual will only need to discover the medium of communication that works best. For instance, if one cannot stand face to face communication, the veteran needs to try a different form of communication such as using emails. One can opt for alternative means to pass the message without necessarily causing conflicts.
Employers have a role to play in bridging the communication divide between the veterans and the civilian at the work place. For instance, managers should first admit that there is a cultural difference and work towards solving it. They should try to embrace the divide and to mechanize new languages and tools that will welcome the veterans into the organization. Questions about their background like the type of service, what they valued most in the service, their job descriptions, the skills and changes they came across are key step to understanding a veteran’s challenges. Moreover, the management needs to discuss the priorities of the company to them while attaching each goal to the values. This strategy is important because veterans have a habit of focusing more in values than goals from their previous employment. The organizations should also hold the hand of the veteran by offering a helping partner to guide with the necessary orientation in communication practices. In the military, this kind of peer support is very crucial and any veteran will appreciate such an initiative. However, the team in the veteran’s work place should avoid sensitive communications that spark emotional communication like pressuring them on specific job details they are not willing to share, making unnecessary assumptions about their political interests and creating comparison between the military and outside life. Veteran identities are always sensitive. When employers and senior management help them integrate between the two working contexts, they may smoothly adapt to the communication patterns in the work place (Koenig et al , 2014).
According to O'Connor (2017), another way of bridging the discrepancy in the communication is by understanding the co-workers. Most people in the civilian environments are not used to harsh instructions from a supervisor, a hostile working environment or they have never worked under pressure. Hauck (2014), mentions that civilian employees’ goals of commuiication are mainly for task accomplishment. In the miltary, there was a particular order of communication where failure to follow the stipulated chain of command could warrant a great punishment. However , a civilian environment is quite the opposite because most descisions are team-centered. They require a lot of consultation and input from the entire team. It is also important to consider an approval from the supervisors. Therefore, a veteran should learn to be collaborative in communication (Efron, 2014) .
A positive attutude is also vital for effective transition. It is important to show courtesy even in situations of disagreement with the boss or other collegues. In the military, the norm was following orders even when one was against them . The directives were effected in any way no matter the circumstance. This experience gives most veterans an upper hand because they are used to it. It is essential to follow directives and rules in a civilian environment. However, the most important thing is being positive, accomodative and willing to be open up to new ideas . This aspect can easily prompt a clarity in situations of misinterpretation or even some form of consideration where a directive feels unfair or illogic (Hauck, 2014).
Conclusion
As illustrated from this study, an open mind is necessary for every successful transition from the military to the civilian world. Some skills learnt in the military service are transferable while others are not. Some means of commuications that were applicable in the military work environment do not have to necessarily work in the civilian environment. Therefore, flexibility is also important. Veterans should learn to set goals in their new career field, look for help from relevant resources and seek counsel in areas of communication. Also, the ultimate drive should be to bring out the best in a particular job using the skills learnt in the military than bringing in more confusion, dicord and trouble.
References
Efron, L. (2014, August 11). How to Transition from Military to Civilian Work. Forbes .
Farley, J. (2018). Mission transition: managing your career and retirement. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
Hauck, S. (2014, June 24). Communication tips for job seeking veterans.
Koenig, C. J., Maguen, S., & Jose D. Monroy, L. M. (2014). Facilitating culture-centered communication between healthcare providers and veterans transitioning from military deployment to civilian life. Patient Education and Counseling , 414-420.
O'Connor, D. (2017). Effective communication in the workplace. Leipzig LecturioGmbH .
Woog, D. (2018). Tips for making the Transition from Military to Civilian life. Retrieved from Monster: http://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/military-to-civilian-transition
