Barry ET Harris MBE, Proelium Law Senior Advisor and UK Army veteran, shares thoughts on how to successfully transition from the military to civilian life.
Defining your values is important; they are reflections of your needs, desires, and what you care about most in life. Values are a cohesive force of our identity, and can often be decision-making guidelines. Defining your values can help you understand what to follow using a strong moral compass. Veterans have experienced so much in life, and that experience defines them and equips them with a moral courage that may not be evident in Civvy Street. Personal core values guide behaviour and choice, in theory much like company core values. But it can sometimes be difficult to align or accept the stated core values of an employer, especially if those values are wrong or ambiguous. Some positive core values that are attractive to employers are:
Truth
You will function best when you are direct and honest, although you will need to learn how to moderate some of that military directness. Being direct and honest needs to start in your CV. Openness and honesty breed the best responses as ‘there’s money in honesty’.
Diligence
Management is an applied science in the Armed Forces. Punctuality, and responding to messages almost immediately, is SOP. Veterans do not leave things hanging and are mission focused. Ensure that any statements made are substantiated, speak in absolutes only if you have completed the reconnaissance and finalised the research.
Consistency
Hypocrisy is deadly. Be consistent in your values and how you impact on those around you. Employers seek consistency in their employees; it never hurts to have some experience, and Veterans have plenty of that!
Creativity
You might think that you would not need creativity as a core value, but it is highly valued by employers. Veterans are incredibly creative, born from a life of doing the most with the least, on time and on target!
Impact
Veterans tend to think like most entrepreneurs and see potential everywhere. Some personal traits like passion, integrity, and energy are subconscious core values followed by instinct, and they are ingredients in the impact a Veteran can make. In high-stress situations, performing professionally at a very high level of competency is an impact that Veterans can have in the workplace.
Humility
In Civvy Street people don’t wear their CV. Badges of rank, qualifications, awards and accolades have no place as corporate bling. You will have to determine and display your personal value without these aids. This might be difficult for some former Armed Forces personnel who are used to wearing their badges all year round. You can wear a lapel pin; I recommend the Veterans badge! The sudden absence of badges of rank does not mean there is no rank in the civilian world. What can you do? It is simple; be polite and treat everyone with respect.
An Exercise in Defining Personal Value
Exploring your values requires much introspection. Turn off your phone, relax and focus. Recollect the summits and valleys within your experiences that have had the most impact on your life. What we value ultimately stem from our needs which make us passionate about our values! Study your human needs they will relate to your personal values.
What is your list of values?
As Veterans, your personal value, your values, and impactfulness define you and will raise awareness of Veterans and their value in the workplace, and to the nation.
Mahatma Gandhi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny.”
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