Jon Macaskill

Leadership lessons from the military go far beyond the battlefield—they’re game-changers for civilian leaders too. Focus on clarity, discipline, and building trust within your team. Great leaders prioritize clear communication, lead by example, and know how to adapt under pressure. It’s about creating a culture where every team member feels valued, empowered, and ready to step up when it counts. Whether you’re managing a business or leading a project, these principles inspire confidence and deliver results. Are you ready to elevate your leadership skills with proven strategies? Follow for more tips to lead with strength, purpose, and adaptability. Let’s grow together! #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipCoach #SuccessMindset #LeadershipSkills #BusinessCoach #Mindset #Leadership #Team #TeamPotential #Grow #Succeed #Focus #Practice #Motivation #PerformanceCoaching

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3x Pro Tips for companies that want to hire more veterans 1️⃣ Start a Veteran Employee Resource Group (VERG) They don't have to be all veterans, supporters are welcome Ensure Executive Sponsor is high enough level to support effectively ($$$ and time) 2️⃣ Recruiters send promising resumes to VERG for support Recruiters that never served won't understand our community, but they can tell when someone put EFFORT into a resume and has experience Veterans can "translate" and bring quality veterans to the team VERG members can reach out to candidates to assist/mentor (makes the candidate a lifelong fan like Nike's VERG did for me) 3️⃣ Train & encourage veterans to engage community Nothing drives veterans to a company like seeing other veterans post about their positive experience there We may not know what opportunities exist And recent veterans may never have heard of your company But our community is fairly secular, so you NEED regular engagement to build a stronger brand (like we've done at HireMilitary) Questions? #quinnsights Other quick thoughts: Stop wasting your time on all the company "awards" and just pick 1-2 (they are a massive time suck and we don't really care) When you hire a veteran, post a "welcome to the team" message on social media with a picture of them in uniform (and out) SkillBridge is a great way to access veteran Talent before competitors (3-4 months full-time at your company - not allowed to compensate) On base events can be great - but not all are created equally (make sure you understand the population at that event) Get your jobs added to the VA Newsletter (millions of views) Add a veteran to your Board of Directors ((Image from Canva AI of veterans helping hire veterans))

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The uniform comes off, but the call to lead doesn't fade. Sometimes it's a grand stage, other times just a podium, or even a beat-up folding chair on a gym floor. Regardless of the platform, it's a different kind of leadership. For any Veteran out there navigating transition, or looking for a powerful next chapter, professional speaking—whether part-time or as a full-time mission—can be a hell of an avenue. Here's what this second act has taught me about leading from the front: ► Humility matters. It's never about you, the speaker. It's about what your experience, your scars, and your hard-won lessons can unlock for them – your audience. Serve their needs, not your ego. ► Shorter is better. You can make a massive impact in 10 minutes if you truly know what you're there to say. Cut the fat, deliver the mission. Don't waste their time. ► Laugh, pause, reflect. The rhythm of a good talk isn't all fire and brimstone. Let people breathe. Let the message land. Silence can be louder than words, and a moment of genuine connection trumps a lecture every time. ► Command the room. Your presence speaks first. Project authority, composure, and confidence. The message lands harder when the messenger owns the space. ► Be fiercely original. Don't try to copy someone else's uniform. Your unique story, your scars, your hard-earned lens—that's why you were invited. Own it. Be you. Why do I enjoy this mission? Simple. Every time I step up, I get to connect with other leaders, share lessons forged in the toughest environments, and potentially help someone navigate their own challenges. It's a privilege. A purpose, refined.

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You don’t have to be an influencer to be a great networker. When folks in the military community hear “networking,” many picture something big and loud: posting your life story, building a brand, chasing likes. That approach is okay, but it’s not the only way. When it’s done well, career networking is often a quiet skill. For instance, I worked with a job seeker who recently landed a great role without ever posting publicly. Instead… ➕ He applied to a job he was excited about ➕ He searched LinkedIn to see if anyone at the company shared his military background ➕ He found someone and reached out with a clear ask, not a generic message: “I served in a similar capacity as you. I’m applying for this specific role. If you know the hiring manager, would you be open to passing along my info?” That’s it. And it worked. The person passed the resume along. The job seeker got a call, crushed the interview, and got the offer. You don’t need to be everywhere online to make progress with your career. You don’t need a viral post or personal brand, either. Sometimes, all you need is a thoughtful connection and the courage to ask.

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One of the conversations I really enjoy having with organizations is about momentum. How to create it, how to sustain it, and most importantly, how not to kill it. One of the core principles I teach is this: It’s one team one fight. That’s something I learned in the military. You put aside your differences to overcome a common enemy. And I remind organizations that the enemy is external, not internal. But if there is an internal enemy, it’s often our inability to get along. To collaborate. To see the bigger picture. It’s ego. It’s personality clashes. It’s being in the wrong seat on the bus. And that leads to my second point. Alignment. Every person in an organization is like a puzzle piece. You thrive when your gifts, your strengths, and your personality actually fit the role you’re in. When you’re positioned well and I’m positioned well, the whole organization runs smoother. There’s less burnout. There’s more ownership. And excellence becomes the standard, not the exception. Last thing. I believe the future of work is rooted in joy. When people make friends at work… When they laugh, feel seen, and actually enjoy being there… They show up different. They contribute different. They care different. And when people feel good, the work tends to be good too.

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