General Promotes Soft Skills At Haas

U.S. Army Brig.-Gen. Tammy Smith walks with her wife Tracey Hepner at Haas. – Ethan Baron photo

As suggested by her comments to Haas students, Smith believes strongly in the power of soft skills, whether in military operations or enterprise.

“There’s a tendency to only think short term,” she says. “I’ve been in the Army for 28 years and I’ve learned to take a long view. Some of those skills that will get you a short win will damage your reputation in the long run.

“Compassion is a way to move toward the long view of leadership and to move through your career taking your good reputation the entire way. Compassion doesn’t mean weakness. Sometimes its’ a compassionate thing to tell someone they’re screwing up. it doesn’t mean you have to be mean about it.”

Business schools can hone students leadership capabilities if they take the initiative, Smith says. “It’s a simple as standing up and leading. It’s as simple as saying, ‘I have an idea, who can help me?’ It’s as simple as, ‘I don’t think this is right, who can I talk to about this?'”

HOW TO LEAD IN B-SCHOOL: STAND UP AND STATE YOUR IDEA

And business school provides students with an opportunity to examine their own values and ethical systems, and reach understandings crucial to post-graduation leadership, Smith says.

B-school students should list their values and identify their origins. “One of the ways to move forward and interact with the world as a leader is to have the self awareness of who you are. One of the basic foundations of who you are is what your values are and where they come from,” she says.

As in the military, defined values and ethics foster cohesion in business, Smith says. “People will have brand loyalty to their companies and treat their peers with respect,” she says.

Her Army experience holds lessons for women, gays and lesbians in b-school and in business, where discriminatory beliefs and practices linger.

“They’re going to face some of this no matter what environment that they’re in, whether it’s a college environment and too, when they move on into the workplace.

“It’s usually the not dealing with someone who is inappropriate in a particular situation that creates the toxic environment. It’s more leaders not dealing with the toxic situation that breaks the trust.

“There’s a great responsibility for people to police their peers, I would have to think especially in business schools, going through basic training together almost.”

DON’T MISS: MY STORY: FROM THE MILITARY TO STANFORD; GENDER BIAS ALLEGED AT UCLA ANDERSON