Which of These People Is Your Future CEO?: The Different Ways Military Experience Prepares Managers for Leadership

A recent Harvard Business Review article (subscription required for full text) notes:

“According to a 2005 Korn/Ferry study, former officers make up just 3% of the U.S. adult male population but about three times that of the CEOs of S&P 500 firms. Faith in the leadership qualities of former officers makes sense: They are trained for high-stakes positions at a young age and are sometimes thrown into those roles with no warning. Many are driven by a desire to serve, and success demands working well with others, resilience, and mental agility. ”

The article excerpt goes on to make comparisons / contrasts in the leadership skills that are developed in the various branches of service. While the generalizations are obviously not accurate for every candidate, we do believe it is a worthwhile exercise to point out the variety of valuable leadership skills that are acquired in military service.