Veterans Can Learn Stoic Responses that Often Leads to Stronger Personal and Organizational Leadership and Performance

(Illustrative Only)
Representing Veteran Stoic 
Lessons for Executives, Leaders,
Business Owners. etc.

When one masters their response they begin to master their environment and philosophy can help us understand how this may work.Those who serve in the military, including veterans, often develop advanced skills out of necessity. They are regularly required to overcome challenges and complete missions, and those experiences tend to produce deep insight. Great challenges often lead to great change both personally and environmentally. 

Some may argue that philosophy has little to do with military or veteran development, but it is closely connected to understanding human nature under pressure in a broad environment. The article discussed philosophy and Stoicism, which was especially thought-provoking. As people develop, their emotional reactivity tends to decrease while their strategic thinking improves. This is where true mastery begins. Win or lose you did your part and were positively impactful.

At this stage, individuals learn to choose their responses making them a key strategic player. They act in ways that are most helpful to their unit, community, society, or organization. Developing this ability requires consistent challenge, adaptation, and overcoming adversity. Taking a moment to step back and think through options often leads to better outcomes. Acting impulsively, on the other hand, often leads to mistakes.

These ideas also apply to business ownership and executive development. This is one reason veterans are often strong candidates for leadership and development roles within organizations. Statistically, many have also succeeded in business by creating new opportunities for themselves. In many cases this persistence in the face of challenge and the ability to step back and make a strategic choice has long term benefits for personal and organizational development.

Over time, lessons learned across different situations help develop the ability to pause, evaluate options, create a strategy, and then execute it. Those who have served not only observe large organizations in action but often face situations that force them to challenge assumptions and adapt to new realities. Through this, they come to understand the edges and possibilities of personal development.

For those who master these challenges, they have learned a lesson in real life that most others can only view from a book, podcast or theory; even though they may not always know. This is a lesson many people struggle to successfully navigate throughout their lives. No executive grooming program can tap the worm at the core on that level. You understand when you can think "Impossibility is a paper tiger" crumple it up and threw it in the trash can where it belongs. Each challenge is a lesson and a chance to improve so choose to adapt willingly and come out stronger on the other side.

Stoicism and Military Leadership: Why Calm Command Still Matters

*This is for a project that helps veterans.