By Ronan 
Whenever one talk about the United States defense troops, the name of the Navy SEALs surely comes up at least once. They, in fact, are among the most widely known defense troops in the world. Being a key part of the US defense, the people part of the Navy SEALs have need to have a lot of mental and physical strength, as well as life skills. As mentioned by Stephen Varanko while not many people may think about it, but leadership skills are actually quite crucial to becoming Navy SEALs. While obviously strength, candor and fitness are definitely important to join these troops, leadership qualities are also quite vital there. Varanko has a good knowledge of the sphere of SEAL training, and he has a host of academic, business, and athletic leadership accomplishments as well.
Stephen Varanko mentions the key skills that Navy SEALs must have
Due to the nature of their job, Navy SEALs have to undergo numerous sensitive and severe operations. While at times they may work alone or with their fellow ranking officers, in certain cases they may also have to lead a team of agents. Stephen Varanko says that hence it is crucial that these individuals have adequate leadership skills, which enables them to motivate, encourage and inspire their team members. There are multiple leadership qualities needed to be a commendable Navy SEAL member. Here are a few of them:
- Everyone knows the importance of good communication skills in diverse fields, and the domain of defense is not much different in this regard. All people in a leadership position in the force must have efficient communication skills, including the ones belonging to the SEALs community. Leading others, especially headstrong and confident officers, is not an easy task. People have to be good communicators to inspire and motivate their team, while also providing them with constructive criticism whenever needed. This criticism additionally should be provided in a manner that is not discouraging. While carrying out all these activities may seem overwhelming for some, in the beginning, their job would invariably become much easier if they have good communication skills. It is vital that these individuals remember that listening skills are imperative for being a good communicator. Communication is a two-way street, and one must be well aware of when to talk and when to simply listen to others.
- While one may hone their social and physical qualities as much as they want, but certain emotions come from deep within the heart of a person. Passion and dedication are two of these qualities. As pointed out by Stephen Varanko if a person is not adequately passionate about what they are doing, they won’t be able to effectively inspire and manage a whole team. Leadership without inspiration and encouragement cannot ignite the spark in members that would be needed to carry out hard missions fruitfully.
In addition to the qualities mentioned above, skills of prompt thinking and compassion towards team members must also be present among SEAL officers.