I am an unapologetic fan of the Marvel movies.
Remember the first one with Captain America? He became a jacked super soldier when a scientist injected him with a super science juice.
The scientist told him the super juice enhances the qualities of the person. So a good dude like Steve Rogers turned into a really great, stronger dude. The movie’s bad guy had also taken the super juice, which turned him really strong and evil.
Friends, the military is going to be super juice for your communication style.
Let’s say you come in to the military as a decent communicator:
- The military will give you stories to tell about America’s protection, so your communication will be more focused and meaningful.
- The military will give you an audience, so you’ll reach a bigger crowd of people who care about your mission.
- The military will give you access to information, so your richer stories will surprise and interest more people.
On the other hand, if you are already an unorganized or nervous communicator, the military communication super juice is not going to do you any favors:
- The military moves fast, so that time you need to prepare and compose yourself is never going to come.
- The military rewards confidence, so if you’re soft-spoken or have a weird voice, you’re either going to have to change or overcome it with extra good information. “His voice is tough to listen to, but always has something useful to say.”
- The military will give you access information, so if you aren’t a lean communicator, it will be easy for you tell long stories with lots of level-three details, and quickly lose your audience.
There’s good news for poor communicators, too:
- The military will give you reps. You can practice, fail, learn from, and re-attack opportunities to communicate as often as you’d like. Give briefings, teach classes, call (e-mail if you must) new people throughout the day. Talk to people who thank you for your service. Call cadence. Key the mic.
- The military has a lot of talented, inspiring communicators. Find them, watch them, meet them and learn from them.*
- The military will give you access to information. You will always have something important to communicate about.
*Among the many communicator role models I try to emulate: The first public affairs sergeant major I worked with. A now-retired Special Forces 2-star commander. A specialist broadcaster I promoted three times during my PA Detachment command tour. A former contractor/corporate comms/NATO guy with legendary edge and insight. An Air Force captain who will someday be my boss. Thanks for making me better, fellas.
(Photo by Cpl. Alexander Sturdivant, DVIDS)
