Posts Tagged ‘leadership’
Are You Goal Oriented or Growth Oriented, Part 2
Last week in Part I, we looked at the question, is there a difference between being goal oriented and growth oriented? In that blog post I described two types of people: the Certificate Collector and the Balanced Firefighter. Part I also described the bricks and the mortar. The bricks are certifications, but what is the…
Read MoreAre You Goal Oriented or Growth Oriented, Part 1
Is there a difference between being goal oriented and growth oriented? I believe there is and I believe there is an answer to this question without throwing out one or the other. The goal-oriented person All of us need to have goals in life: personal and professional. However, there are people who are so goal…
Read MorePersonal Growth = Water In, Water Out
The photo shows a fire department ladder truck at the scene of a small fire. Notice the size of the two hoses. The larger yellow hose is 5” diameter and supplies the pump with water from the fire hydrant. The small green attack hose is 1¾” diameter and the water flowing through this hose extinguishes…
Read MoreFire Officers: Are You Competent with Your Job Skills?
Today is Labor Day and this is a fitting question: as a fire officer are you competent with your job skills? Unfortunately, many are not, including those in both the paid and volunteer fire service. On the paid side of the house are those individuals (including officers) who proclaim the mantra of payday and four…
Read MoreDo You Appreciate Your Employees?
In my July 3rd blog post, I mentioned bosses who fail to recognize demanding work and employee achievements. In this post, I am addressing that topic in more detail. On June 3rd of this year, I had the opportunity to attend a Common Pursuit event hosted by Kingdom Way Ministries in Loveland, Colorado. The speaker…
Read MoreDanger! Hazardous and Toxic!
Last week’s blog asked if you would enter a toxic atmosphere unprotected. I compared a choking cloud of chlorine gas to a noxious work environment and the impact on mental and physical health. Required signs The photo shows a restricted area at an industrial waste site warning people of the dangers behind the fence. Laws…
Read MoreWould You Enter a Toxic Atmosphere Unprotected?
The two firefighters in the picture above are participating in a drill simulating a leak in a one-ton chlorine container. We used white theatrical smoke for the exercise, but a real chlorine leak produces a yellowish green, pungent, choking cloud. Choking cloud of chlorine Chlorine is immediately dangerous to life and health at 10 parts…
Read MoreWho Are YOU Mentoring?
Last week’s blog was the conclusion of a seven-part series titled Dual Footprints, Becoming a World Class Mentor. In that series, I covered six areas of commitment: If you missed any of the blogs, I encourage you to go back and read them. Look at the following questions and take the time to answer them:…
Read MoreCar Engines & Employee Enthusiasm
What does a picture of a 2003 Toyota Corolla car engine have to do with enthusiastic employees? Everything! Mileage and More Mileage Although our Corolla is a 2003 model, we purchased the vehicle in the spring of 2002. When my wife took the car in for an oil change the odometer registered close to 300,000…
Read MoreTeam Conflict
The topic of the last three blog posts has been about teams. The theme continues this week and revolves around a word that can make people cringe. That word is conflict. When you hear or see the word conflict, what thoughts and images come to mind? Two people engaged in an argument, rabble rousing rioters…
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