Synopsis
This article presents leadership lessons from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) as shared by Air Marshal (Retired) Ahmad Hassan Marwat. It highlights military leadership principles such as discipline, resilience, crisis management, innovation, and strategic decision-making, contrasting them with corporate leadership practices. The article explores real-life leadership stories from the PAF, including decision-making under pressure (e.g., February 27, 2019, air battle), emotional resilience in crises, innovation and risk-taking (e.g., JF-17 Thunder development), and the role of empathy in leadership. By analyzing these insights, the article provides business executives with leadership lessons from the military to enhance organizational effectiveness and strategic execution in corporate settings.
Discussion Questions
- How does military leadership differ from corporate and public sector leadership in decision-making and execution?
- What role does emotional resilience play in military leadership, and how can corporate and public sector leaders apply it?
- How do military leaders foster teamwork and accountability without financial incentives, and how does this compare to public sector management?
- What are the challenges of implementing military-style leadership in corporate and public sector settings?
Author: Jawad Syed
Citation: Syed, J. (2025). Leadership stories and lessons from Pakistan Air Force. SAAM Working Paper Series 25035. South Asian Academy of Management.
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