May 2017
FireNuggets, Inc
Take good care of your people. Again, this is
pretty simple and straight forward with copious Invest time and energy in strategic personal and
professional relationships. Relationships that are
amounts of common sense. “No so fast…..). Lead
by example. Put the (shined) shoes on the other formed and nurtured in the military can, and often
are, lifelong and pay benefits in future business
foot. What would you expect your leader(s) to do if
roles were reversed? Simply said, if you take care of careers. I’ve personally benefitted from the people I
served with in Vietnam and met afterwards which
your people, your people will take care of you. Be
consistent, fair and hold everyone accountable and has paid me many dividends. That I’m a Veteran,
coupled with the unique reasons I was medically
that includes yourself. The leader drinks from the
‘canteen’ last. The leader eats last; goes to bed last; retired, has also helped me survive and thrive.
Boiled down: it’s all about building a network and
is the first one up and in the ‘office’ in the morning
and is the last one to leave at the end of the duty cultivating the network; building trust and
relationships. Where’s there’s no trust, there’s no
day. In the military, the duty day never ends. The
true leader knows the names of the people who relationship.
clean the building and makes sure they know how
important they are to the mission. You’re not a
king, you’re a leader; no task is too great or too
small that you wouldn’t do it or haven’t done it
yourself.
“Mother Teresa did not become famous by caring
just about herself.” Manuel Corazzari
Gather a diverse teams and people to get a
broad range of input and perspectives. My own
experience and many of my active duty and retired
military cohorts and friends have shown that military
training taught us the value of working with diverse
individuals and teams. This helps diffuse what I call
the “Rice bowl” paradigm where people have their
heads down and only focus on what’s in it for them
(me) “WIFM” and view others with different
experiences and input as, gasp, outsiders who will
upset the “apple cart.”
“When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty,
my only response is that I am thankful I have a
cup.”- Anonymous
By Firefighters, For Firefighters
“You show your vulnerability through
relationships, and those feelings are your soft
spot. You need to have a soft spot.” Victoria
Pratt
Have the willingness and ability to listen to
others. Incorporate as many others opinions, as
feasible. First, seek the opinions and feedback from
your staff. An effective strategy: get-out from
behind your desk, leave your office and walk around
the organization. That means not only location
where you work but all the other locations, as well.
Make eye contact. Ask a question and then be
prepared to listen…really listen—make and retain
eye contact with the other person. Have a note pad
and take notes. Notes taken and then insure you
close the loop with those who offered opinions and
feedback. Best result: close the loop in person or
with a personal note signed by you, not from
another staff member, to thank them and include
the status of their opinion or feedback.
“After you hear and listen. First, must come desire.
Second, must come willingness. Third, should come
understanding. Fourth, should come progression
and with progression will come more
understanding.” - Hyrum Yeakley
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