Culture may be the military’s most valuable asset. The service-members to your right and left have your back. They wear the same uniform, speak the same language, and know the same procedures. Whether you’re engaging the enemy or taking care of the wounded behind the front lines, you’re all part of the same team.
When you become a small business government contractor CEO, you have the opportunity to create your own culture through your own values. But for many military veterans, the transition from being part of an amazing culture to building that culture is challenging.
Here are two ways veteran-owned government contractors thrive:
- First, they create a scalable business structure through uniformity of process. Squads transition into platoons into companies, battalions, and brigades. Likewise, your company must be designed to grow for the long-term.Right now, you may be handling all of the back-end accounting as well as being lead salesperson. As your company grows, will your growing sales team be able to pick up the flag and keep running, or will they have to reinvent the wheel? Will an outsourced CFO vendor partner understand your accounting, or will they be stuck trying to figure out where you’ve spent your money? In the military, a new company commander walks in the door knowing his or her responsibilities and what he or she can expect from lower-ranking personnel, NCOs, and junior officers. You have to create a similar structure as well as a transition plan so that company changes don’t slow your growth.
- Second, successful veteran-owned govcon companies create an effective hierarchy that prioritizes clear instruction, subordinate training, and initiative throughout the entire operational structure. The military is excellent at executing missions ordered by Central Command, communicated through the ranks, and implemented by front-line leaders and individual servicemembers. Your company must likewise be able to clearly communicate and coordinate from the top of the hierarchy to the bottom, while allowing subordinates to make dynamic decisions within the scope of their training and responsibility.
One of the greatest rewards of running a veteran-owned successful government contracting company is continuing your public service in a new way. We should know; Parabilis’ Chairman and CEO are veterans. Our Director of Operations was raised in a military family. It is our goal to help you make a great transition from one type of public service to another as smoothly as possible. Contact us today to see how we can help!