I decided to write this knowing that most have never met, worked with or know a Navy SEAL and as a result, do not know all the character traits and mindset they all have.
· Humility
Each man without exception possesses a level of humility I am not used to witnessing in the private sector/civilian population. Humility (the opposite of arrogance, over confident, smartest person in the room, etc.) is what allows them to be great listeners, ask for help and practice self-reflection on a daily basis.
I understand many lack this key character trait, so here is a quick tip on how to improve your level of humility “build a close circle of influence that is made up of people that are excellent, better than you, possess the character traits you want to improve upon or gain”.
· Be Present
We live in a world that has people seeking to be “more efficient and organized”, but the reality is most operate from a point of chaos, reaction and wasted time. I see individuals that are able to get so much out of every day, almost as if they have 28-32 hours in a day!
I see that they operating in a different manner, not trying to “multi-task” but instead work off of a system that is very simple and focused. They seem to spend more energy/focus on “being present”, handle what is critical today (versus many that are taught to make long term plans, take your energy/focus off what is critical today, right now).
· Unique Communication Traits
I would describe their communication methods as; be brief, be direct, be gone! It is definitely a “less is more, listen more than speak” approach.
This is one area I really admire and try to emulate and improve upon. They are able to use short direct phrases and words, as opposed to many sentences, long memos, power point slides, etc. (what you will find in most private sector organizations).
My quick tip here is I find myself looking at emails, texts and correspondence and look for ways to be more direct, concise, keep it under a page, etc.
· Don’t say or commit to something UNLESS you are going to do it!
If they say they are going to do or take ownership over ANYTHING, you can be sure it will be done, done on time and at the highest level possible!
This goes right to trust and credibility, two traits that are lacking in most private sector organizations/civilians. It is the root cause of so many opportunities like; missed deadlines, poor customer service, failure to train the bench, need to delegate, late meetings and a total disregard for others time.
A quick tip here I see from these individuals, is to do less and do it great! They would never settle for “good enough, because good enough never is!”.
· Be Calm
They possess the ability to be calm regardless of the situation or challenge. They seem to see opportunities versus problems. They do not make excuses, they instead focus on taking action (almost like they can figure out any situation, as opposed to individuals that first look to panic, create excuses for why it cannot be done, etc.).
I see this is a must have character trait for great leaders and think of this way – your emotions are like a mirror to others; calm breeds calm, panic breeds panic, etc.
This is by no means a complete or all-inclusive list, but I wanted to start with a few items and build on this in a follow-on post next month.
I know as you read this, you might think “this is great but how can I learn from Navy SEALs like you do”? I have two words for you “Victory Strategies.”
Authored By: Dave Phillips, President