By: Dr. Stephanie Diana Eubank DBA.

As Veterans Day approaches, organizations rightly honor the service, sacrifice, and leadership of military veterans. However, modern workplace research increasingly suggests that organizations should be cautious about importing battlefield leadership models directly into civilian workplaces.

Douglas McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y framework remains highly relevant. Theory X leadership assumes employees require close supervision, external control, and frequent monitoring. Theory Y leadership assumes employees are capable, motivated, creative, and able to self-direct when given appropriate support. Research and management literature consistently show that employee autonomy, trust, and engagement are strongly associated with higher organizational performance.

The challenge is not veterans themselves. Veterans bring discipline, accountability, teamwork, and resilience. The challenge emerges when organizations adopt command-and-control practices designed for emergency, military, or crisis environments and attempt to use them as permanent management systems. Micromanagement may be appropriate during crises, compliance failures, or safety incidents. As an everyday management style, however, it often creates employee disengagement, stress, and resentment.

Gallup research indicates managers account for approximately 70% of the variance in employee engagement. When leaders rely heavily on surveillance, excessive monitoring, favoritism, or informal relationship-based decision making, employees frequently perceive that advancement depends more on who they know than what they contribute.

At the same time, workplace violence continues to be a significant business risk. OSHA reports that violent acts remain among the leading causes of workplace fatalities, with hundreds of workers killed annually through workplace homicides and other violent incidents. High-profile events in healthcare, retail, logistics, government offices, and manufacturing environments regularly make national headlines.

The solution is not weaker leadership. The solution is better leadership. Organizations facing economic uncertainty need leaders who create psychological safety, establish clear expectations, maintain accountability, and empower employees to solve problems creatively. Theory Y leadership does not remove standards. It strengthens commitment by treating employees as capable professionals.

As technology continues to reshape work, innovation increasingly depends on knowledge, adaptability, creativity, and collaboration. Organizations that continue operating through fear, excessive control, and constant monitoring may struggle to attract and retain talent. Employees today are increasingly demanding workplaces built on trust, transparency, and results rather than hierarchy alone.

Veterans Day provides an opportunity to celebrate military service while also recognizing a critical organizational truth: the workplace is not a battlefield. Winning organizations create cultures where people feel safe enough to contribute their best ideas, challenge assumptions, and collaborate toward shared goals.

References

Galani, A., & Galanakis, M. (2022). Organizational psychology on the rise: McGregor’s X and Y theory. Psychology, 13, 782-789.

Gallup. (2026). Global indicator: Employee engagement. https://www.gallup.com/394373/indicator-employee-engagement.aspx

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2026). Workplace violence overview. https://www.osha.gov/workplace-violence/

Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD. (2023). Information for employers about veterans.

Ready to see how your workplace scores? Take the Workplace Leadership Health Check™ today:

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Whether you’re an employee, leader, HR professional, or business owner, this assessment can provide valuable insights into the health of your workplace. We look forward to sharing resources that help organizations build stronger teams, healthier cultures, and more effective leadership practices.

Book Spotlight

Remote Work Is Here to Stay: Rethinking Operations Management in the Modern Work Era
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As businesses continue adapting to changing work environments, operational excellence and effective remote leadership remain critical skills for success.

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