How do you lead civilians in your organization? If you don’t have civilians, how do you lead people that you don’t have command or supervisory authority over?

As an MI Officer, I’ve had the pleasure of working and leading civilians both downrange and at home station.  I agree with comments above that one must be authentic and understand the needs of our civilian counterparts. Because there are key differences between military and civilians, it is critical to get an early assessment of “problem” civilians.

Having civilian appreciation events, or ensuring they attend unit events is key to fostering an inclusive environment. This is also an indicator if they feel comfortable enough to attend a unit event (family day etc).  Likewise, awarding high performing civilians is key and sometimes overlooked. For units with large amounts of civilians, having a Civilian of the Quarter award helps with identifying high performing civilians.