Yesterday I tweeted that “I’d rather choose someone with experience from kindergarden than some one from the armed forces as a leader”. It might seem like good old fashioned trolling, but I am serious.

I speak from a Norwegian perspective and things might be different in other countries. When working in kindergarden you acquire some skills which I think are essential for leaders in general, but especially in knowledge companies. In Norway the law says that children shall always be included in decisions [1]. 

I have never been in the military as I’m a pacifist, so my facts are based on information found on Norwegian military web sites. Like the introduction for students at Norske Krigsskole, which is considered one of the best schools in the military sector.

I am not an expert at any of these things, so there is the odd chance I am talking out of my back side. However, let me just generalize enormously just to explain why I think the qualities required to lead a group in kindergarden are closer to the ones you want a leader in my industry to possess.

In all of military there is one truth which undermines everything and which is the thing that is not negotiable: you obey orders. Without soldier following orders without questions, military operations become really hard to perform. That is not the same as suggesting there never are objections or discussions, but a chain of command is essential in heated combat. 

When trying to get a “platoon” of 3-6 year olds to agree on something, at least in Norway, you can not rely on obedience. Granted the kids can’t do whatever they please, but you are obliged by law to make sure the kids are in on the decisions. It is like a consensus based democracy, where anyone can block but everyones opinion must be heard.

Another difference I think is important is that in kindergarden you’re learning kids how they themselves can find ways of acquiring knowledge and lear skills. In a military context your job is to repeat and drill those you command so they act without hesitation. These are quite different ways to operate.

I would argue that the skills required for enabling kids to learn are more important than those required to train for military operations. That was basically the basis for my rather tabloid tweet. You can of course learn useful stuff in a military education too. I was generalizing that it isn’t the skills that makes a good leader in my opinion. 

These were my subjective opinions on things I have only a little bit of knowledge about. You are welcome to disagree and you are welcome to enlighten me on the importance of military education. If you were offended by my words, I apologize as it was not my intention to offend.