According to a recent Forbes article, companies are better off hiring NCOs than MBAs (Masters of Business Administration)!

Of course, it’s a bit of a stretch to draw direct application from the article to our actual BB NCOs, there are plenty of great inspirational lessons and parallels we can draw from the article.

Here are a few good ones, that I’ve adapted for our context:

• As an extension of senior leaders (or in the case of the BB: Officers), they ensure that the job gets done. An NCO ensures that the officer’s commands are carried out correctly.  They get the job done before even being told to do so.
• They are a vital link between top leadership and the field/ground/Boys/Members. Regardless of the Officers’ location, the NCO makes sure work is done to the standards prescribed and that resources are available. A company sergeant holds responsibility for tens or hundreds of people and serves as an essential mentor.
• They ensure a solutions-driven approach. The NCO serves as a senior adviser to the Officers, determining the causes of the obstacles between the present problem and the desired outcome. The NCO then comes up with the solution to achieve the desired result.
• They provide feedback that translates into opportunities. The dreaded annual performance review in the private sector is an everyday responsibility for an NCO, who is responsible for developing subordinates to take his or her place. NCOs are the ones who develop the bench of future on-the-ground leaders.
• They are motivated and instill the same motivation in others. What motivates a person to show up for BB? Often, it’s a commitment to the team and a loyalty that has been ingrained in the organization by the NCO. The NCO knows how to boost morale.

So, as NCOs, how many of us think of our responsibilities this way?