5 Mindset Shifts Transitioning Service Members Need to Make for a Successful Transition into a Civilian Career

If you’ve been conversing with newly transitioned service members, they’ve likely said, “It’s harder than it looks.”

My transition out of the Navy included a new search for purpose-filled work, the inability to communicate clearly with most civilians I interacted with, not understanding the nuances of civilian organizations, and the need to take a second look at my leadership philosophy. I noticed feeling on my own again (Cue Whitesnake song).

What’s important about these challenges, was that it all came down to fixed beliefs I had developed or retained from the military that I needed to shift to help me succeed. So yes, transitioning is harder than it looks – especially if your mindset doesn’t support your successful transition.

So along with your list of things to do you receive from your transition program, consider these five mindset shifts to help you successfully transition into your civilian career.

#1 Making a shift in Re-defining your Personal Purpose

From fulfilling your purpose in the service to discovering your purpose in life

I know you wanted me to share an easy step, but I’m here to hit you with the big, deep topic of purpose. After spending nine years in leadership development and experiencing my transition out of the Navy, it is the most obvious topic to address. This is the largest void I experienced that I needed to fill and that I see fellow vets struggle with the most.

Military Mindset: In the service, your purpose as a service member was to accomplish your branch's missions. It may be bittersweet, but after transitioning out of the military, this will no longer be your purpose. I found great satisfaction in serving my country but finding that satisfaction as a civilian is tough. Leaving behind this strong purpose creates a deep void that you need to re-fill to produce continued personal fulfillment.

Civilian Shift: You have to fill this void on your own as a civilian. Your new civilian company is more likely to expect you to discover your own personal purpose and align your personal purpose with the organization’s vision. Civilian organizations rarely – if ever- offer opportunities to help you discover your personal purpose.

Actionable Shift:

Finding your personal purpose in life should now become your #1 focus.

If you don’t make any more mindset shifts before you transition out, make this focus priority #1.

In the military, you were likely never asked, “What is your purpose?” and you might have rarely – if ever – asked yourself that question.

Most people don’t put the work in to ask themselves what their purpose is and why they get out of bed every day.

However, there are clear consequences to not getting clear on your personal purpose. By not being truly connected to your personal purpose, you can experience a range of emotions like dissatisfaction, anxiety, isolation, depression, and a lack of motivation. This is often accompanied with a lack of engagement at work, the feeling like you are truly making a difference, indifference at work, and job hopping. This transition already comes with a huge identity shift, the shift from service member to veteran, so make things a little bit easier on yourself by beggining to re-definine the "New You" now.

As a transitioning service member, now is the time to be proactive on this - slow down, self-reflect, read books, listen to podcasts, or watch videos to help you reflect on who you are now that you’re out of the military and who you want to become. Allow these to inspire you and help you uncover what you deeply want in life.

Purpose work is deep work, and it’s one of those steps where we must go slow in order to go fast. Finding your purpose can often be a life-long journey or it can be something where you can find a purpose that modifies over time.?

When you uncover your personal purpose, you will find clarity on your path and future decisions. You can align your career and life choices with what drives you personally and professionally leading to a path of personal fulfillment. Discovering your purpose creates a new kind of value for your own life and for those in your life.

Finding your purpose isn’t easy, but I’ll write more about this down the road and link the articles here to help you through this.

?#2 Making a Shift in Your Language

From Military Jargon to Civilian-Friendly Communication

I found myself deeply struggling to communicate when I first became a civilian. Between the Military Jargon, and the expletives I learned along the way, communicating with others was a disaster. I wish I had spent more time during my transition period improving my language and communication skills so that I came off as clearer, more approachable, and more understanding when I first left the service.

Military Mindset: In the military, communication is often direct, concise, and filled with specialized jargon or acronyms commonly understood within the service - and highly confusing for civilians. Orders are given with clarity, often without the need for extensive explanation or emotional nuance.?

?Civilian Shift: However, in the civilian world, communication is more relationship-driven and requires thoughtful consideration of your tone and audience.

Developing a softer, more collaborative tone can help build trust and respect with civilian colleagues. Many civilians will not respond well to a direct, command-style approach. In other words – many veterans find themselves in HR for how they speak. Their verbal approach didn’t previously get them in trouble in the military, but can cause many problems in the civilian world.

Actionable Shift:

Spend time refining your language and communication skills by:

• Reducing the use of acronyms and military-specific jargon in favor of language that resonates with civilian colleagues. If you can’t tell the story quickly and clearly without acronyms, hold off on telling the story until you can.
• Shifting from command-oriented orders to a collaborative tone, where input and discussion are encouraged.
• Developing your emotional intelligence in communication. Gain greater awareness of how your tone and delivery of messages may be perceived by others.
• Practicing storytelling to translate your military experiences into lessons and skills that civilians can relate to. Make this a deliberate practice: What is the story? What’s the lesson?
• Never stop practicing and growing your language and communication skills, it's a place of fundamental growth potential and will only propel you forward, as long as you allow it.

?#3 Making a Shift in How You Understand Organizations Operate

From Command Hierarchies to Collaborative Influence

Military Mindset: In the military, clear rank and structured hierarchy create a streamlined chain of command where decisions come from the top and are followed without question. You were expected to follow orders and encourage good order and discipline.

Civilian Shift: Civilian organizations are often more fluid and collaborative, relying more on influence, negotiation, and teamwork rather than strict commands and ranks.

When you transition out of the service, your fellow employees will likely have no idea what rank you were, or what that rank even means.?

As you transition, whether you were an E-3 or an NCO or a Lieutenant, your coworkers want what you bring to the table to contribute. They value your knowledge, skills, abilities, values, character, and what you bring to the team. That's what you need to show them.

Actionable Shift:

As a veteran, embrace more of a consultative and collaborative leadership style, focusing on building influence through relationships and fostering open communication rather than relying on rank-based authority.

Is someone asking you to do something that doesn’t make sense? It’s more okay to question it as a civilian.

Do you have a better idea on how to complete something? Don’t be afraid to share it. ?

As a civilian, your organization wants you to bring 100% of what you have to offer to the table to create and develop innovative ideas. Most organizations want employees who fully express themselves for the purpose of creating innovation. Spend more time understanding how your new organization operates, and how you can be a collaborative influencer.?

#4. Making a Shift in Your Personal Growth Plan

From Structured Support to Self-Directed Growth

Military Mindset: In the military, professional development, and career paths are clearly laid out. Specific protocols exist for skill-building and advancement.

From my experience, finding success in the Navy was easy because the path had been laid out for me, all I had to do was follow it. I knew exactly what I had to do, and what I needed to learn, and leadership would even ensure my training and development needs were met by scheduling classes or trainings.

Civilian Shift: Civilian workplaces may lack the structured development paths you’re used to, requiring you to take more initiative in personal growth. This is especially true for small to mid-sized businesses and entrepreneurial companies.

If this is the case, ?you need to identify which certifications or skills will help you advance in your role, rather than having a clear, predetermined career path laid out. In many companies, your leaders may not automatically provide development plans, or career-pathing, or outline their succession plans. However, they will expect you to see mentorship, training, certifications, or networking opportunities to keep progressing.

Actionable Shift:

Now is the time to take charge of your own professional development, set personal goals, seek mentors, and leverage educational resources to thrive in the civilian workforce. As a civilian, you are in charge of who you want to become now, and the possibilities for you are endless, as long as you take proactive steps and make a few mindset shifts along the way. What’s nice about this shift, is the flexibility. You can focus on personal and professional development and map your unique path.

#5. Making a Shift in Your Leadership Philosophy

From Directive Leadership to Empowering Leadership

Military Mindset: In the military, leadership often involves directive, top-down decision-making. Leaders are responsible for giving clear orders and ensuring strict adherence to them, with minimal room for questioning or deviation.?

Civilian Shift: However, civilian organizations often value a more empowering leadership style, where leaders inspire, mentor, and foster autonomy. This means leaders spend more time as coaches, coaching team members to develop their own solutions versus a sole focus on giving direct orders. In a civilian company, a manager might say, 'How do you think we should approach this problem?' rather than providing step-by-step instructions. This shift helps build critical thinking and empowers employees to take ownership of their work. Employees have much greater power compared to military organizations.

?Actionable Shift:

Consider how you need to adjust your leadership philosophy by:

• Focus on empowerment over command—enabling team members to take initiative and ownership of their tasks.
• Lead first by establishing trust instead of relying on authority. Focus on leading with emotional intelligence, and understand that successful civilian leadership involves listening, motivating, and building consensus.
• Shift from a problem-solver to a coach—help employees grow by guiding them rather than giving directives.
• Encourage open dialogue and feedback, and recognize that leadership in the civilian world thrives on collaborative decision-making and including diverse perspectives.
• Consider taking leadership courses to help develop your leadership skills and refine your leadership philosophy.

Wishing You Success on Your New Journey

Transitioning out of the military is a significant life change, and it also presents you with an exciting opportunity to redefine yourself and chart a new path. By making these key mindset shifts—finding your personal purpose, adapting your language, embracing collaboration, taking charge of your growth, and evolving your leadership style—you’ll be well-equipped to succeed in the civilian world.

Remember, your military experience has given you invaluable skills and resilience, but it’s your ability to adapt and grow that will propel you forward. Take time to reflect, seek out new opportunities for growth, and trust in your ability to make this transition. You're not alone—there are countless veterans and organizations ready to support you.

I wish you the very best on your journey, and as you navigate this transition, keep in mind that every step forward is a step toward discovering your full potential in this next chapter of life.

Which step stands out to you the most? Let me know in the comments and let's discuss.?