NatSec@Work - National Security Workforce - September Issue

Leadership Lessons and Highlights

Community as the Safety Net If conviction and discipline form the internal scaffolding of character, community provides the external support. McChrystal emphasized that point repeatedly. “The military has a bunch of communities,” he explained. “They become your safety net. They become your friends, your mentors. It’s not limiting, it’s enabling, because you’ve got a foundation to stand on.” Community, he suggested, is what sustains individuals when conviction falters or discipline is tested. It is the network of peers, mentors, and colleagues who remind you of your values and hold you accountable.

This theme resonated with me personally. At ClearanceJobs, we often describe ourselves as a community, not just a website. To some, that may sound like branding. But to those who have spent careers in military units, government agencies, or contracting firms, community is not an abstract idea. It is the difference between resilience and isolation. For professionals navigating the cleared workforce, community is what keeps individuals grounded amid career transitions, relocations, or the unique pressures of holding a security clearance. It is the reminder that you are not alone, that others share the same challenges and the same mission. Building Community Beyond the Uniform McChrystal’s emphasized that community is not exclusive to the military. It can be built anywhere, even in a city like Alexandria, Va., where he and his family live.

3. Character is the product of both. Conviction without discipline leads to burnout or empty passion. Discipline without conviction becomes rigid routine. Together, they form character, the essential trait of a trusted leader. 4. Community enables resilience. No leader succeeds alone. Communities, whether professional networks, military units, or neighborhoods, provide the safety net that catches you when you stumble and the foundation that allows you to stand taller. 5. Doing your best is enough. Outcomes cannot always be controlled. What can be controlled is effort. Leaders who give their best can rest knowing they met their responsibility, even if circumstances prevented the result they hoped for. McChrystal’s reflections on character are not just lessons for military leaders. They are blueprints for anyone navigating the pressures of today’s workforce, particularly in national security, where stakes are high, burnout is real, and community is often the only buffer against isolation. In an era of constant digital connectivity, relentless work pace, and shifting global challenges, his message is both timeless and urgent: cultivate conviction, practice discipline, build community, and do your best. Character, in the end, is not something you are born with or something you declare. It is something you build — day after day, decision after decision, in the company of people who keep you grounded.

“You can find your community wherever you are,” he said.

McChrystal’s example is a reminder that community does not happen by accident. It is cultivated, intentionally and with effort. For the national security workforce, this is a lesson worth carrying. Whether you’re in uniform, working at a federal agency, or supporting missions as a contractor, the communities you cultivate, inside and outside of work, are the networks that sustain you. They are the people who encourage you when work feels meaningless, the peers who advocate for you when opportunities arise, and the mentors who guide you when conviction or discipline wavers. Lessons for Today’s Leaders What should leaders and professionals in today’s workforce take away from McChrystal’s reflections on character? 1. Leadership requires conviction. Whether you are leading a platoon, a project team, or a hiring initiative, you must believe in what you are doing. Without conviction, leadership becomes hollow and transactional. 2. Discipline sustains conviction. Energy and enthusiasm can fade. Discipline — the routines, the accountability, the commitment to do the work even when you don’t feel like it — ensures that conviction is more than a momentary spark.

That is not just a capstone lesson for a retired general. It is a call to action for all of us.