From orders to outcomes – transitioning from Defence 15 years on
Leaving the map behind: Navigating leadership without orders
Military life is structured, with boundaries and processes that lead to outcomes within a ‘living with uncertainty’ environment.
Private sector leadership is more collaborative and consultative, requiring different communication styles with a diverse workforce recruited from a broader cross section of society.
Moving from one to the other is not just a career change, it requires a shift in mindset, thinking and approach.
When certainty meets complexity
In the military, following orders supports an aim potentially devised three layers up.
In corporate roles, results come from dialogue, influence and collaboration rather than compliance – more transformational than transactional.
Success depends on engaging people at logical and emotional levels, which replaces the certainty of command and control with the complexity of consultation.
From command to condition: Leading without rank
The shift is from giving instructions through a chain of command to enabling success through collaboration. However, this doesn’t mean we don’t enable success in the military!
Leadership becomes about creating the right conditions for people to perform rather than directing every step – empower with the appropriate levels of oversight. It means constantly reflecting on what you say and do and thinking about how it will land with others and shape their response.
Intent over instruction: Redefining success
Both military and civilian work rely on a clear intent to drive innovation and results. Success is no longer purely about ticking off milestones.
It is about knowing what good looks like as an outcome and guiding people towards it without prescribing every action.
Leading in uncertainty: The new battlefield
Ambiguity is not a risk; it is an opportunity. Building trust through consultation rather than compliance is key.
Leadership in this environment means influencing without authority and using experience as an edge to guide teams through uncertainty and towards shared goals.
