Teamwork

My November 7th blog asked the question, are you trustworthy? I wrote about Yvonne “Missy” Woods, a former employee of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) who simply put, destroyed the trust people and the organization had in her. Steven Covey said, “Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective…

November 10th and November 11th. What is their significance to the United States? November 10th, 1775 The United States Marine Corps was formed 249 years ago on November 10, 1775, at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The original building no longer exists but a plaque marks the location where Tun Tavern once stood. Much has…

“Regardless of the profession or situation, earning trust is paramount in leadership.”1 On September 4, 2024, the Denver Post published an article titled, Years of Misconduct, Inside CBI’s Inquiry into a DNA Analyst. The story is about Yvonne “Missy” Woods who was a DNA scientist for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Woods had gained a…

Do you have a monstrous alligator lurking in the waters of your Fire Department? The organizational monster Halloween is this week and there are organizational monsters and alligators roaming through the fire departments of the world. We can also include other organizations such as business, non-profits, and various government entities (elected, appointed, and hired employees).…

Although the words leadership and management are used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two, and understanding that difference has an impact on organizational morale. Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune, the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps said, “Leadership is the sum of those qualities of intellect, human understanding, and moral character that enables…

Not too long ago I saw a comment on LinkedIn that said, “The worst thing a person can do is leave their career development to the mercy of the employer. I have seen it.” This made me think of the many ways an individual’s career development may be hindered by an organization, whether intentional or…

The titles of my last two blogs were, Are You Goal Oriented or Growth Oriented. You may have a plan for development, but is it diluted and weak? The fuel spill Throughout my career as a firefighter, I responded to a wide variety of incidents, including fuel spills ranging from small puddles to gasoline flowing…