Have you ever wondered why the SSB Interview lasts for 5 continuous days, and what the SSB Selection Board expects from them? In our last articles, we tried to answer this question by explaining what are “Officer Like Qualities or OLQs” and “What is seen in a Candidate at SSB Interview?”. To understand in brief, these personal qualities (PQs) or more commonly called Officer Like Qualities (OLQs) refer to behaviors, traits, states, needs, motives, goals, attitudes, hobbies and interests, decisive tendencies, and general temperaments toward a particular personal or social situation. Actually, they are different from the mental and intellectual factors of an Individual. These qualities along with the Individuals medical condition are also examined but they usually form an intrinsic part of the selection procedure. So, In the last article, we explained what are OLQs. In this article, we will explain in detail how you can develop Officer Like Qualities or OLQs for the SSB Interview. We will provide practical examples and discuss different ways through which you can train, inculcate and develop Officer Like Qualities or OLQs or qualities by working on a regular basis.
Table of Contents
What are OLQs?
Let us recap what are the OLQs. Below are the four factors that are sub-divided into 15 OLQs, which are evaluated at the SSB.
Planning and Organizing
This factor includes four qualities of the mental aspect that are
- Effective Intelligence
- Reasoning Ability
- Organizing Ability
- Power of Expression
Social Adjustment
This factor includes three qualities associated with the conscience of the person that
- Social Adaptability
- Cooperation
- Sense of Responsibility
Social Effectiveness
This factor includes five qualities as below
- Initiative
- Self Confidence
- Speed of Decision
- Ability to Influence the Group
- Liveliness
Dynamic
This factor includes three qualities that show the efficient usage of your body as below.
- Determination
- Courage
- Stamina
To get detailed information about what is OLQs, check out our previous article – Officer Like Qualities or OLQs || What is seen in a Candidate at SSB Interview? Now let’s understand how to develop officer-like qualities.
How to Develop Top OLQs in Your Personality?
We all know that our surroundings and habits play a major role in building and shaping our personality. We learn and upgrade ourselves from the events happening in our surroundings. Some other factors that may also affect us are the environment in which we are raised, the choices we make, how we respond to different circumstances, and the way we represent. We keep on acquiring and changing these habits or qualities as we face different situations in life. Thus by doing small changes in our daily life, we can develop Officer like qualities or OLQs in ourselves.
Let us look at all the 15 OLQs one by one and how we can inculcate or develop Officer like qualities in ourselves.
Effective Intelligence
We all develop academic intelligence by going to school or college, which is evaluated through exams. However, this intelligence is different from that. This intelligence talks about the common sense or basic intelligence which we tend to lose with time. We lack practicality in our thinking.
To develop Effective Intelligence, you must start observing everything in detail and think in a practical manner. To train your minds, we can solve puzzles, different mind games, and solve verbal and non-verbal reasoning exercises. Be simple and practical in your approach to daily life problems and situations.
Reasoning Ability
Reasoning Ability is not only useful for defense officers but also in common people’s life to take every decision. Reasoning Ability shapes our thought process.
We all must have logical reasoning for whatever we think and say. Your responses or approach toward any question or problem should have logic. You can develop this thought process by just asking simple questions to yourself as to “WHY’ or “HOW”.
To develop this habit you should read the Editorial section of the newspaper, watch good TV Debate shows, and online articles on current topics, and be part of the logical conversation with your friends or family members. You can also have a discussion on any current topic and try to analyze it through various aspects. This quality is one of the main qualities, which will help you to perform better at your SSB.
Organizing Ability
These qualities check how well organized and resourceful you are in your daily life. You must use every resource in the most efficient manner by using only those resources, which are required inevitably.
You can develop this quality by being well organized in your daily life with proper time and resource management. Try to be part of any organizational team of your school or college, which will give you a chance to practically implement this quality. Try to use minimum resources to give maximum output by becoming an organized person.
Power of Expression
The Candidate must have the ability to convey their ideas and thoughts in a clear manner to the listener. This verbal habit can be developed by practicing yourself in front of the mirror.
You can also participate in conversations and discussions with your friends and family members. You can also take part in debates, elocutions, or group discussion competitions. Reading newspapers aloud or listening to good speakers and orators will help you in making proper pronunciation and improving your tone and pitch.
Develop clarity in your thoughts and be self-motivated and positive, as these are very important to have good expression power.
Social Adaptability
The candidate should be adaptable to new situations and new people very easily. For this, you should never create a barrier or a comfort zone around yourself.
The candidate should initiate and talk with different people, interact with different types of people of varied age groups and personalities and develop empathy to be able to accept them in whichever way they are. Be humble to everyone, but never get emotionally attached to anyone. Maintain your self-dignity and self-respect by knowing your limits.
Cooperation
This is one of the main qualities that is looked at in a candidate at SSB. The army is synonymous with Teamwork and Best cooperation.
To inculcate this habit, the candidate should participate in group or team activities – like playing different team games, taking part in extra-curricular activities like team plays, dance, being part of the annual function, etc. Develop a team’s perspective instead of doing all things yourself or being selfish.
Sense of Responsibility
The candidate should be brave enough to take responsibility and be completely dedicated to his work. If you think that “It is my responsibility” & “I should not depend on anyone”, then automatically a sense of responsibility develops within yourself. Even if anything goes wrong, you should take responsibility for the same and try to improve yourself so that it will not happen in the future.
To inculcate this habit, you should initiate any type of work that is given to you at school, home, college, or place of work.
Initiative
As a soldier, one of the basic qualities required is to take initiative, take risks for his team and be ready to face any situation.
To inculcate this habit, try to take the initiative for any task given in your school, college, or workplace. Be ready to take up any opportunity and perform your best to achieve or complete that task.
Self-confidence
Self-confidence is the readiness to face any situation that comes your way. It is not only important for the SSB but one of the essential qualities for life. To develop self-confidence, you can
- Have faith in yourself, that you can face any situation in life and will perform your best
- Read motivational stories and surround yourself with positive people
- Try to increase your knowledge by reading and getting yourself updated about current affairs. This is important because knowledge helps you to increase your self-confidence.
- Meditation and Yoga can also help up to some extent.
Speed of Decision
To inculcate this quality, you should start thinking like an Officer. Every day in life, we face many situations where we have to make decisions. Image yourself as an officer, take decisions quickly in your mind, and then analyze your solution. Try to figure out the different options available and select the most suitable one.
Ability to Influence the Group
This quality is linked with the power of expression, so we can work to improve these two qualities simultaneously. You can improve the ability to influence the group by
- Becoming a lively person.
- Develop a charismatic personality, where you are able to impress people easily
- Be logical in your reasoning and explanation
- Read the newspaper and be updated on current affairs
- Never hesitate to put forward your idea in front of the group, but never try dominating the group and thinking that you should be the only speaker.
If you have good command over the topic and are able to support your argument by facts and example by communicating in an effective manner, you have better chances of influencing the group.
Liveliness
Always have a positive mindset in whichever condition or situation you are in. Never crib or worry when in a difficult situation. Just remember one thing you have just one life and we have to live it to the fullest.
Always be focussed and cheerful. You must also try to understand the feelings of your group or team members and try to act accordingly. Try to create a happy and joyful atmosphere around yourself.
Determination
Determination and discipline are the two pillars of a soldier’s life. They have to be determined towards whichever task they are assigned to them. You can develop these qualities by
- Being focussed on your goal despite distracting events happening around you
- By Adopting a “Never Give Up” attitude
Be focussed and determined towards your goal of joining the defense forces and take regular actions that will help you in achieving the same.
Courage
Courageous is synonymous with a soldier. Below practices will help you in developing your courage
- Accept and face every challenge thrown to you
- Be clear in your thoughts and have the courage to stand for the same, if the need arises
Stamina
Developmental and physical stamina will be required in the physical activities at SSB as well as in the training and service of the job.
Mental stamina is more important than physical stamina. To develop this, you should do mentation and Yoga on regular basis. Physical stamina can be developed by doing regular physical exercises and playing outdoor games. Running will also help you in building your stamina.
Over time, these habits can be developed through dedicated and focused efforts. Just remember one thing we all have these qualities in some quantity. It is just that you have to sharpen them.
Always be determined, focused, and disciplined in your efforts. Your hard work will always pay off.
Hope this article would have helped you in understanding how you can develop Officer Like Qualities in yourself by practicing and developing new habits.
If you have any queries or need some more explanation about any topic, feel free to mention them in the comment section or directly mail it to [email protected].
Check the Indian Army’s official website to know about details of upcoming entries.
