Prof V K Gupta says CEOs with military experience make good leaders
Armed force personnel as corporates
In the Armed Forces, Short Service Commission officers retire at the age of early 30’s, also, for other officers the retirement starts at the age of 45 and above. Since these officers have lot of working life available with them they are looking for a second career.
Though, they are highly talented officers, however their knowledge and skills have been confined to defense forces.
To prepare them for a corporate job, they are imparted with managerial knowledge and skills so that they can broaden their understanding and hone their skills to face challenges and can become fit for job opportunities in the corporate sector.
Military personnel are best leaders
The traits such as confidence, leadership, self-discipline, strict lifestyle, teamwork and strong analytical skills which an officer gain while working in the forces help them to deal with situations instantly and grow in their carrier after retirement from armed forces.
Overall development of workforce
These officers from the armed forces are known to be independent, creative and highly flexible and are endowed with traits such as courage, motivation, excellent communication skills, self-disciplined, selflessness and honesty.
They motivate and inspire the men working under them to perform in impossible situations in order to achieve the organisational objective. They work collaboratively and work as an efficient team leader as well as team member.
Whether the job to be completed is administrative or non-administrative, it can only be completed proficiently when motivation is given by a leader.
Innovative courses
Many management institutes are introducing MBA courses for defence personnels. Courses such as Individual and Group Behaviour, Business Strategy, Management Accounting, Business Communication, Marketing Planning, MIS taught at Armed Forces Programme provide them with managerial knowledge which help them to perform best at their managerial jobs after retirement as life and working environment is different in civil life.
Such courses help them to hone their skills, attitudes and attributes to manage and capitalise on their inherent potential and to adopt an optimistic and balanced move towards their organisational aim.
The writer is dean, continuing education, MDI.