So You Want To Be An Officer? Officer Development February 2012

Why are we here?

Ask Yourself Why am I here?

Why? Money Prestige - respect Power – being in charge Personal growth plan – build your resume? Mother-in-law would be impressed Can it do better than other officers I have had Be a Change Agent – make the department better Solve Problems Help others develop

Pinning on the Badge You represent me Your represent the organization You represent the fire service

Management

Management is doing the thing right and leadership is doing the right thing Leaders by Warren Bennis

Job Responsibilities Get the job done Response ready Train Know your first due buildings Pre-plan review and revision Station and vehicles Enforcing the rules/values Evaluate your crew Reports accurate and on time Planning

Leadership

Leadership is like an elephant

He who thinketh he leadeth, but have no one following him, is only taking a walk. James Autry

No man is a leader until his appointment is ratified in the hearts and minds of men

Vision

A path for change Status Quo = Vision

Vision Optimistic Enthusiastic Sincere

Vision Help others achieve If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. John Quincy Adams

Vision Moral compass “Leaders must have zero tolerance for ethically challenged employees” “It’s the tone at the top. Any trip up in ethics or integrity at the top is magnified in the trenches.” Sharon Watkins - Enron

Competence

Be a lifelong learner Study outside of fire service/EMS Education is important

Integrity

Mark Twain “Good and evil grow at compound interest.”

Integrity Character is revealed when the price of doing the right thing is more than you are willing to pay. Michael Josephson

Defining Moments Character is what you are when no one will know. Defining moments – those times when you must decide to do right or wrong; or between right and right

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinker Can you think past your own bias? Can you set aside the conventional wisdom to analyze the facts? Question common wisdom

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to manage ourselves, and our relationships effectively through awareness of and effective response to our emotions.

Four Categories of EI Self Awareness Know thyself Social Awareness Understand others Self Management Control yourself Relationship Management Influencing others

Understanding Yourself and Others Instruments –Insights –Myers-Briggs –Emergenetics –Campbell Leadership Index

Humility

Being vulnerable Admitting when you are wrong Not having to have the final say Doesn’t have to be your idea Let others take the recognition

Level 5 Leaders “ Level 5 leaders channel their ego needs away from themselves and into the larger goal of building a great company. It’s not that Level 5 leaders have no ego or self-interest. Indeed, they are incredibly ambitious – but their ambition is first and foremost for the institution, not themselves” Jim Collins

Characteristics of Level 5 Leaders Humility and Will Ambition for the Company – setting up successors for success Compelling modesty Unwavering resolve – Do what must be done Practice the window and the mirror tactic

Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher, 600 BC “ A leader is best When people barely know that he exists, Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him. Fail to honor people, they fail to honor you; But of a good leader, who talks little, When his work is done, his aim fulfilled They will all say, We did this ourselves.”

Courage

Courage to have and demonstrate integrity Courage to question common wisdom Courage to be a continuous learner Courage to be vulnerable Courage to confront and discipline

Leaders don’t inflict pain - they bear pain Max Dupree

Do You Have the Commitment? Change? Control your emotions? Subjugate your personal needs to those of your subordinates and organization? Learn about yourself? Learn about others? Sacrifice personal time? Are you willing to:

Commitment cont’d Make hard decisions? Be misunderstood and criticized? Be a lifelong learner? Think critically with an open mind?

Significance and Balance It is more important to be significant than it is significant to be important!

Lead Well!!