Lesson #3 - The Foundation of Leadership: Character
Question #1 Name at least 4 traits that can be found within a person of great character? Which of those would you like to improve on?
Question #2 How important is your character in the position of Captain? Regardless of what you believe regarding COVID-19 safety precautions (social distancing, masks, sanitizing, etc.), how important is it to your character to be the example by following the rules set out by the District?
***Character matters and it takes hard work to be consistent, compliment those around you who have been good examples for you
Question #1
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 3 of John Maxwell’s book Developing the Leader Within You, he mentions Tim Irwin’s book, Derailed, he said Irwin writes that there are 4 dimensions of character. These dimensions are authenticity, self-management, humility, and courage. All 4 dimensions are great traits to aspire to and I can work on developing all of them. The one that I could improve on the most is courage. We work with some extraordinary people and I am always impressed with the talents we have around us. Sometimes I get discouraged and feel that maybe I’m out of my league or not ready for a certain task.
You are correct Mark, we work with extraordinary people. I would like to think you are not "impressed" with those folks; rather, you are "encouraged" by them. That is the source of courage- receiving encouragement from those around you. Keep up the good work.
DeleteI absolutely agree, Bozek. I have felt since I became part of this department that we are surrounded by the “best of the best.” I am going to say this with the humblest intentions.... I have never been the type of person that had to work very hard to get good grades or succeed at things. When I was hired with the district I realized I wasn’t the smartest, I wasn’t the hardest worker. We have some extraordinary people here who have much to offer. I have been able to learn and grow from our people. I’ve always tried to keep an open mind and an open perspective. I have truly grown, not only as an employee, but a husband, father and friend, from learning from those around me.
DeleteMark I too agree with you that we have some extraordinary people that we work with. I would also say not to be "discouraged " by others because everyone has their strengths and everyone has their weaknesses. Your strengths are others weaknesses and they can be "encouraged" by you. We are lucky in that if we recognize these attributes we can grow and learn from each other.
DeleteMark, that feeling I believe is natural and normal for all of us. I know that I have felt that way myself on numerous occasions. Especially when in a new position or doing something for the first time. We worry about messing up, letting down our peers or looking like a fool. Well, we are human and we will stumble. We must dust ourselves off, ask for some grace and get better. This is the courage and humility pieces. I've known you for a long time Mark, let me assure you that you posses all of these character traits and you are capable! You are not out of your league!
DeleteQuestion #2
ReplyDeleteSomething I always tell my kids is “It’s easy to do the wrong thing, it’s harder to do the right thing”. An example of this can be seen in emergency callbacks. It’s very easy to just tell yourself “someone else will go in, I’m busy” and ignore the text message. It is a lot harder to drop everything your doing, break the news to your wife and kids, and ruin plans you may have had. I have regularly tried to “practice what I preach”. I believe this is especially true when we are in the rank of Captain. As a leader, we have people looking at us for direction, and we don’t follow our own rules we will lose integrity and most importantly the trust of our team and our leaders.
Mark
DeleteReferencing your quote, “it’s easy to do the wrong thing, it’s harder to do the right thing.” This is a great motto to introduce to your crew at the beginning of the year. Whenever there is a moral or ethical decision the team faces, you can always fall back on your values and let them dictate your response.
Great analogy Marcus, it is easy to do the wrong thing or find an excuse to make. I believe you truly do practice what you preach and have been one of the most dedicated and selfless employees we have. You set an example for a lot of people in this organization and I admire your dedication to .
DeleteThanks Joel, you have no idea what that means to me!
DeleteQuestion #2
ReplyDeleteSomething I always tell my kids is “It’s easy to do the wrong thing, it’s harder to do the right thing”. An example of this can be seen in emergency callbacks. It’s very easy to just tell yourself “someone else will go in, I’m busy” and ignore the text message. It is a lot harder to drop everything your doing, break the news to your wife and kids, and ruin plans you may have had. I have regularly tried to “practice what I preach”. I believe this is especially true when we are in the rank of Captain. As a leader, we have people looking at us for direction, and we don’t follow our own rules we will lose integrity and most importantly the trust of our team and our leaders.
This is great Mark.
DeleteWith regards to something we spoke about in the Personnel Development training, there are numerous traits or characteristics that leaders have and employ; but without honesty and integrity, a leader will be doomed to fail. If those who you are attempting to lead do not trust you or believe you are acting with selfish or self-serving motives, then they may follow your directions, but they won't follow you. The book spoke about values being your compass, guiding everything you do. We all are unique with different characteristics which we employ as we lead. Still, without honesty and integrity, we will not be affective as leaders. It is true that integrity alone won’t make you a leader, but without integrity you will never be one. ~ Zig Ziglar The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. ~ Bob Marley
ReplyDeleteWith regards to something we spoke about in the Personnel Development training, there are numerous traits or characteristics that leaders have and employ; but without honesty and integrity, a leader will be doomed to fail. If those who you are attempting to lead do not trust you or believe you are acting with selfish or self-serving motives, then they may follow your directions, but they won't follow you. The book spoke about values being your compass, guiding everything you do. We all are unique with different characteristics which we employ as we lead. Still, without honesty and integrity, we will not be affective as leaders. It is true that integrity alone won’t make you a leader, but without integrity you will never be one. ~ Zig Ziglar The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. ~ Bob Marley
ReplyDeleteWith regards to something we spoke about in the Personnel Development training, there are numerous traits or characteristics that leaders have and employ; but without honesty and integrity, a leader will be doomed to fail. If those who you are attempting to lead do not trust you or believe you are acting with selfish or self-serving motives, then they may follow your directions, but they won't follow you. The book spoke about values being your compass, guiding everything you do. We all are unique with different characteristics which we employ as we lead. Still, without honesty and integrity, we will not be affective as leaders. It is true that integrity alone won’t make you a leader, but without integrity you will never be one. ~ Zig Ziglar The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. ~ Bob Marley
ReplyDeleteWell said Mike. Thank you.
DeleteWith regards to something we spoke about in the Personnel Development training, there are numerous traits or characteristics that leaders have and employ; but without honesty and integrity, a leader will be doomed to fail. If those who you are attempting to lead do not trust you or believe you are acting with selfish or self-serving motives, then they may follow your directions, but they won't follow you. The book spoke about values being your compass, guiding everything you do. We all are unique with different characteristics which we employ as we lead. Still, without honesty and integrity, we will not be affective as leaders. It is true that integrity alone won’t make you a leader, but without integrity you will never be one. ~ Zig Ziglar The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. ~ Bob Marley
ReplyDeletegood stuff Mike
Deletetest
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1 - Kindness, Empathy, Compassion, Humility, Integrity, Honesty, Engaging, Self-Awareness..... There are many traits people with great character possess, these are just a few. Having good character will not guarantee that you will be a successful leader, but it will give you a solid foundation. I would like to improve upon being self-aware. I believe the more self-aware you are, the more you can improve upon every other quality. That is, if you are genuine about it. I want to continually improve myself so I can continue to improve my relationships so I can positively impact and influence others. "I want to improve my character, not because it gets me what I want, but because it helps me to be what I want to be."
ReplyDeleteWell said Mike. We are always trying to be better and many areas and you have to be genuine about it. If we are improving one day and destructive the next, who will take us serious as trying to improve.
DeleteQuestion #2 - Leadership without character has no substance. If, as leaders, we aren't the example that we want to set, then we will have no followers. As a captain, people will do what you ask of them, but they will not follow. You will not develop any further than positional leadership. I've worked with company officers like this, one in particular comes to mind. They had a "do what I say, not as I do mentality." I listened, but mainly out of fear of being reprimanded. That was as far as their influence went with me. I did not learn from them, I did not value their character. I want to lead, I want to influence, I want to be able to affect change. In order to do this, I need to have good character and be genuine about it. I believe people will be able to see right through you if your character isn't genuine. If you don't truly believe what you ask of others, then they won't believe in it. Part of being a leader is having buy-in. Having buy-in is having trust. Having trust is another trait of a good leader. That's why it is important to set a good example, so people trust in you and they believe your intentions are coming from the right place.
ReplyDeleteMike, I agree with your statements here and have also worked for people that had little to no influence on me because of their actions. As you said...do as I say but not as I do. This is a prime example of why we all need to be a good example. We can not others to do what we ourselves are not willing to do. I think you hit the nail on the head! Good Job!
DeleteWell stated!
DeleteWell said Mike. What you wrote about trust especially resonates with me. Trust is the highest honor.
DeleteI agree with you, Mike I too had a Captain that ruled with an iron fist. He would yell and intimidate to get what he wanted. He was a very intelligent and competent Captain, but it was the way he would treat people that would make him lose his influence on his crew. I found myself only doing the minimum and taking a lot of time off. It was a very long year! I told myself that I never wanted to be a leader like that.
DeleteHaving character and setting a good example is paramount in the position of Captain. As stated in the book, having good character does not ensure that you will be successful in life or leadership. But you can be sure that having poor character will eventually derail you personally and professionally. With that said, having good character is required and is a minimum standard. Not all leaders in history have had good character traits, which ultimately likely led to their demise. While I believe you must posses good character traits, you must also exemplify those traits in your actions which leads to part two of this question.
ReplyDeleteIt is incredibly important for for us to follow the rules set forth by the District. It’s setting the example, the good example. Someone once told me that it's not the Captain’s responsibility to decipher which portion of a rule or an entire rule to follow or not follow. It’s their job to follow and enforce the rules. I think as leaders it is important to see the rule from many different perspectives so a true understanding can be conveyed to crews when talking about them. I will say that when it comes to setting a good example regarding COVID-19 safety precautions, I have failed. I have no excuse and certainly could have and intend to do better with this. I do believe people tend to follow a good example and it is up to us to be that good example.
Travis, great reflection and points. If you haven't done so already, I would encourage you to talk to your crew about your reflection on your personal responsibility regarding COVID-19 safety precautions. I think it could lead to a really great conversation and leadership moment.
DeleteTravis, what great conversation, humility, and honesty are of utmost priority. This trait is valid in all walks of life, especially in the context of leadership.
DeleteThank you both for your comments, it is appreciated. Chief Cooke, I have had some conversations with crew members and is actually something Steve Koester and I have spoken about. The conversation has been good and we have tried to put ourselves in position looking at it to support our Mission, Vision and Values. By supporting the COVID-19 precaution measures we are directly supporting our Mission, Vision and Values. We can not take care of the public if we ourselves are sick. We are not be good stewards of our financial resources if there is an added burden by us being off. We are not appreciating our members if we are passing COVID to them and so on. This is certainly worth more conversation with crew members and I intend to do so.
DeleteGreat perspective Travis. When in doubt or making decisions, I also reflect on the Mission, Vision, and Values and the organizational impact. Thank you for sharing.
DeleteLesson 3, Question 1
ReplyDeleteThere are so many character traits that good people and leaders have. Here are four that I think are important; integrity, empathy, humility and vision. The one that I’d like to work on is expanding my vision. Sometimes I feel that I’m living, operating, functioning in the now and fail to look further downstream for the big picture. I think if I were to allocate some additional time thinking about the long term that I’d be better prepared, take less steps and be able to plan better. I think it is extremely powerful for us to not get too comfortable with the way things are now. I believe it helps us to remain innovative and relevant. For instance, what do you think the Fire Service looks like 10, 20, 30 years from now? We must stay relevant to succeed and that requires vision.
Well stated, Travis!
DeleteWell said Travis. Vision. Totally agree.
Delete100% Travis. We have to stay relevant, we have to stay ahead, we can't be stagnant. We have to be able to look toward the future so we can affect change, not react to change.
DeleteLesson 3, question 1.
ReplyDelete4 traits that believe represent great character are,
Honesty
Integrity
Hard working
Optimistic
For me I am not always optimistic. There are times when the bad is overwhelming and there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Its never the case and wasn’t worth the stress. I try to take advantage of the negative and assess the positive outcome.
KC,
DeleteHave you noticed a difference in your overall perspective if you've looked at the optimistic point of view?
Yes, I certainly have. More often than I thought.
DeleteThere may be times when your personal opinion and operational direction are at odds. It's ok. It is during these moments of conflict that genuine character is revealed. The differences of opinion do not define you; how you choose to respond does.
ReplyDeleteI agree that its in the moments of conflict that genuine character is revealed. Tough times don't last but tough people do. I believe that these times are going to build each of us in the organization. Our problems don't shrink we just get bigger. Looking forward to the growth in the organization overall at the end of this Covid 19.
DeleteLesson 3 question 2,
ReplyDeleteI attended a class in the last couple years where someone said “Good character is doing the right thing when no-one is watching, good Firefighter character is doing the right thing when everyone is watching”. To me that says everything about what a Captain is, theres always someone watching. As the book says “character has to come from the inside before it can show itself on the outside”. Without character as a Captain there is no trust from those who lead. Captains have to lead with example. As the Captain if I don’t follow the rules of the district how can I enforce them. We as Captains need to show our respect for the district rules and be the example.
Great point!
DeleteKyle, the comment from your class is a keeper and I am going to write that one down. Why is it that we are so reluctant to do the right thing, especially when others are around and the "group think" mentality is transpiring?
DeleteKyle Boom I like that!!! Success is an inside out job. In order to impact people in a positive manner, you need to have positive input into yourself.
DeleteQuestion 1. Since we can only pick 4 I think that for me Selflesness is right at the top. to me is absolutely true when it comes to parenting!!!!! EVERYTHING you do is for your kids and to me they are my biggest fans and support. I try and be an example for them and none of that would happen without being selfless. Number 2 would be OWNERSHIP, nobody is perfect and for me the ability to have ownership shows you are human and if a mistake is made regardless of what it is, you own it and learn and I feel like the Fire Service in general does not do a good job of that. We brush it off or get defensive at the thought of making a mistake. Number 3 is RESPECT, I feel the world has lost this value in general. I think we show respect thru our words and actions and as the saying goes respect is earned by showing it to others. Number 4 is Compassion, being able to sit down with a brother who is struggling or needs someone to talk to, compassion for your kids, compassion for the people we serve. I think people often associate compassion as weakness and that simply is not the case, I think it shows you care and in the world we live in there is just not enough of it. Of the 4 traits, I think I need to improve on the most is ownership, this is tough sometimes because who likes to admit when they are wrong? I have really come a long way and I feel I have come to a place where I am ok admitting my wrongs and faults and try to take away something from the situation to help me learn and grow. The last few years have been a lot of that for me and I continue to work towards bettering myself in this area of my life.
ReplyDeleteGreat responses Joel. Your #2 is something I resonate with. Sadly, I feel the Fire Service is sometimes unforgiving and when we make a mistake (because we are human) it can take years for our "brothers & sisters" to forgive and forget. I have seen some many instances of this over my career and we end up making folks wear the Scarlet Letter......
DeleteI think you are correct Joel. It is so hard to admit when we make a mistake. I have made so
Deletemany in my career, especially early on. I am still reminded of them 16 years later. We sometimes have this stigma in the fire service that we should be perfect. I have always tried to own open and learn from my mistakes, even though I might get teased about it. I know you guys know I’m not a big sports guy, but I thought I would leave you with a great quote I read by Paul “Bear” Bryant, “When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: admit it, learn from it, and don’t repeat it.”
Question #2 Character to me means being TRUE to yourself and your beliefs and values. My character should not change because I promote or want to promote. I am expected to follow department rules and policies every single day and nothing should change in that sense as a Company Officer. The thing that changes is you are ultimately responsible for making sure that your crew is doing the same and I feel if you are setting the example which is part of your character (doing the right thing ) then you hope your crew will do the same. I firmly believe that the example you set as a Company Officer reflects onto your crew good or bad.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right Joel. Attitude and behavior is contagious, positive or negative.
DeleteI completely agree Joel. As I advance in my career I notice even more how much influence a Company Officer has on new employees in particular. Good or Bad.
DeleteLesson 3 Question#1
ReplyDeleteTo list four common traits would be only scratching the surface of what makes a great leader. However, I believe a few areas are consistent with leaders a crossed all walks of life and within different organizations. 1) Integrity, 2) Humility, 3) Honesty, 4) Consistency.
Consistency is sometimes hard to maintain, mostly due to the constant pressures of home life and work, each force pulling in a different direction. Though, as leaders, we need to display consistency in the station as well as on the emergency scene. I feel that my inherent personality is one of consistency and drive. However, this is an identified area within my personality where I can improve on.
"YOU" meaning us, have to "BE" what we preach. We will still fail but need to dust ourselves off and the change is obvious to those who are watching. There needs to be some forgiveness both ways.
DeleteCarlos's comment about dusting ourselves off reminds me of an action plan in the book "Lead Like Jesus Revisited". It is suggested for the reader to write down things to work toward each day and to do an evaluation at the end of each day. The encouragement is that when you identify a daily goal you didn't reach, don't give up. Dust yourself off and work towards it tomorrow. As a husband and a father I've had to apologize to my wife and kids many times over the years. Fortunately, that humility and my families grace made space for me to improve.
DeleteArn, I appreciate you sharing this action plan. Sometimes I catch myself getting caught up in the long term goals and don't reflect on the day to day.
DeleteLesson 3 Question #1
ReplyDeleteAs I reflect back on those that I consider to be good leaders and think about words that describe their character many come to mind. Some I believe reflect in my character, others I definitely need to improve on. Humility, honesty, integrity, loyalty, and self control are some that I value most.
Loyalty is easy for me when dealing with family and friends, but loyalty is something that I should show towards many other things. Even those that I do not necessarily lead should never question my loyalty. I believe that portraying loyalty towards my leaders will improve the loyalty I gain from those who follow me.
Of the above listed character traits the one I hope to improve on is self control. Self control can be defined as choosing to do things we should do and not doing the things we should not. Displaying self control through the words we use or don’t use can be just as important. A person of great character exhibits self control which builds trust in followers.
Bobby, I agree that a leader that demonstrates self-control is influential. I’d even say it makes them attractive. I remember a captain I had early in my career, divulging to me his personal opinion of a something that impacted our fire department. Prior to this, I never saw him show any emotion about this change that we were facing. He carried out his duties as a supervisor, and did not allow any “cannon fodder” type conversation to deter us from our mission. I was so struck by his ability to do his job, remain a positive influence and not allow his countenance to show his personal feelings. This made the honor of him sharing his personal feelings with me even more powerful.
DeleteQuestion #2
ReplyDeleteAs a company officer, the words you use give crews, direction, and meaning. More importantly, your actions are paramount because from what we've learned from the book is, "people do what people see." This is important to note, especially in the leadership role, due merely to the fact that your team will follow your lead, GOOD or BAD. Maintaining high moral standards will help keep the leader in between the guardrails and aligned with the District's Mission, Vision, and Values.
This is also important to me Steve. I truly believe in actions speak louder than words. I have experienced situations in my life where people said what and how they were going to do things but their actions were completely opposite. Good or bad maintaining an standard that is based on action shows true leadership in my opinion. People don't sometimes know how much their actions are being observed.
DeleteSteve, I totally agree with "people do what people see" and as we maintain high moral standards with the District's Mission, Vision and Values as Captains we need to lead by example.
DeleteLesson 3 Question #2
ReplyDeleteHaving good character is an essential component of being a good Captain. A Captains character should display a willingness to follow the rules of which they are supposed to enforce. That being said I need to pay more attention to the rules set out by the district in regards to the COVID-19 safety precautions. I follow these rules some of the time, but a leader with good character doesn’t follow the rules only when convenient. As Captains we must lead by example and realize our followers are always watching our behaviors whether it's convenient or not.
Really like your comment Bobby regarding following the rules some of the time and as a leader with good character does not follow the rules some of the time. Spot on and I think that example you set is contagious with your crew either good or bad.
DeleteBooby, I think you really hit the nail on the head. I completely agree with your post and feel that we all could do a better job by leading by example, especially when it comes to rules that the district has put in place for us to follow.
DeleteLesson 3. Q1
ReplyDeleteChapter 3 outlines authenticity, self-management, humility and courage. Of these I would like to improve on self-management, specifically that I maintain consistency in being the same no matter whom I’m around. I feel that I do a good job of that but I see that I can improve. That was an area of weakness for me that partially caused others to have differing opinions of me. I mentioned this in the previous lesson. I want to be known for who I truly am. The responsibility for that rest squarely on my shoulders.
Lesson 3. Question #2
ReplyDeleteThe character of a company officer is pivotal. A Captain is very influential to the crews he leads. In some cases, it influences other company officers. My view of this truth is that it’s incumbent upon me to set a good example to my crew and the community we serve. In my current position, I know I have a level of formal and informal leadership. Knowing this causes me to be very careful how I respond to the discussions about the rules you mentioned. Even in my current position I feel the weight of responsibility to represent our leadership by following those rules and wearing a mask while we drive to training or the store, for example. There are many times in our job that we must do what we’re told, regardless of our feelings or opinions.
Arnold, Like the saying goes we may not like it but we just have to do it. Think about when you were growing up and you wanted to do something but your parents said no, cause they new how bad the out come could be. Many times growing up there things we could not do as kids because of what my dad saw happen to other kids during his career.
DeleteLesson3.Question#1 I think the four traits that are most important to me and someone with good character is trust, authenticity, courage, and above all else loyalty. Trust is earned with time not because of status. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a big admirer of our military. I especially admire the men of the special forces community. I follow leadership podcasts from these types of individuals. “ No one wants to work for a jerk.. Always say please and thank you to your employees.” This was a quote from Rob O’Neal who was a commander of Naval Special Warfare Development Group. These are the types of individuals who inspire me to make positive changes within myself.
ReplyDeleteI agree Brian. I believe basic manners are often overlooked and speak volumes to someones character. A simple please, thank you, sir, mam, or holding a door for someone goes a long way.
DeleteLesson3.Question#2 It is important to me to have good character as Captain in the fact good character is the foundation to a good friendship. The foundation to being a good leader, the foundation to having good relationships personally and professionally. People who truly know me know that if we have a good bond I will stand right beside you no matter what the situation is as long as you have good character and do the right thing. Covid-19 is a very serious matter. Covid-19 is not just a work related issue it is also a family issue. What you do at work not only affects your coworkers, your coworkers family, it also affects your family. I have had no issues with the rules the district has set forth regarding the Covid-19. I do not want to catch Covid-19 or any diseases. The Safety of my crew will always be ultimately the number one priority.. When it comes to issues regarding safety and the well being of my crew and myself I will stand firm on enforcing the rules. It does not matter to me how someone feels about me when it comes to good character and safety.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Brian. There is no gray area when it comes to doing the right thing. We have to put the safety of the community we serve, each other, our families and ourselves as a top priority.
DeleteLesson 3
ReplyDeleteQuestion#1
There are many great traits a person can have to be of great character. The four that stand out to me are: Integrity, Humility, Loyalty and Compassion. I personally try to improve on these traits daily, so I can be a better person for myself, family and friends. Compassion is something that I definitely can improve on in my character. I was raised by my mother who has a strong east coast mentality, which is very rough around the edges and direct. This can come of rude and very impersonal, which is not the case at all. This is something that I’ve identified and continually try to work on.
Lesson 4. Question#1 When ever change is imposed on me by someone else I generally will look at the change from a distance and analyze it, There are times I agree with the changes and there are times I don’t agree with the changes. If the change is affecting me to the point of just not willing to accept it then I will try to work with who made the changes and explain my concerns with the hope of coming to a compromise. We all have had change imposed on ourselves especially to achieve a goal, although the change may seem overwhelming at first, but as you figure out solutions to the changes it becomes easy to adapt and make a lot of progress.
ReplyDeleteLesson4. Question#2 A difficult change I had was transitioning from a Fire explorer, to Student Worker, to Reserve Firefighter, and then two a full time FF/PM. As I moved up in the positions came more responsibility along with more pressure to do things right and do it right the first time. As I moved through these positions there were fellow employees who helped and guided me through these ranks.( For which I am forever grateful they mentored me.) These transitions were hard in the fact that I put a lot of pressure on myself not to disappoint them.
Question #1
ReplyDeleteThere are many traits a person with good character possess. Four traits I feel that are important to me are Humility, Self-Discipline, Honesty, and someone who takes Ownership of their actions. I believe a big part of character is the Self-Discipline needed to avoid complacency, resist temptation, and understand that past successes don’t guarantee future success. It’s easy to relax, cut corners, or let your guard down after you have reached your goal. It takes real character to keep working as hard or even harder once you are there. I believe this is something I can improve on. Wither it be my paramedic skills, Engineer responsibilities or even my marriage, I need to continue to constantly work at each and not become complacent and just be OK with the “status quo”. I know I can work harder and always improve.
I couldn't agree more Travis. During the fire academy Victorville City Fire Captain Mathis would address the academy with a daily quote. One that stuck with me was "discipline yourself so that others don't have to." Thinking about that quote drives me to do things I have to do when I'd much rather be doing something else. My five year old son doesn't like that quote nearly as much as I do. =)
DeleteBobby I totally agree. My hope is that I can instill some great values in my girls so that one day they can be successful in what ever endeavors they embark on.
DeleteQuestion #2
ReplyDeleteI am a true believer that actions speak louder than words. I believe your actions help define and determine your character. As a Captain your actions are always under a microscope, not only by your crew but by others in the department. I understand during these unprecedented times everyone has their own personal opinions about COVID related issues and even politics. As a Captain you have tremendous influence throughout the department. No matter what your personal feelings are , your responsibility is to uphold the Mission, Vision, and Values of this department and protect the safety of your crew by following all precautions set forth. Your actions by following the precautions at all times and explaining why they are important show how much to you care for others and their families. Your positive attitude in conveying the message and following the guidelines can help create an environment where others will follow.
DeleteI agree Travis, I couldn’t tell you how many times I heard people talk about their leaders and state “I cant believe he got mad at me for that! I have seen him do that a 100 times” I think we have to practice what we preach if we want people to follow and respect us. I catch my self doing it with my kids all the time. When I tell them to put their dishes in the dishwasher, replace the toilet roll, eat your vegetables, ect, If i dont do it the first thing they do is call me out.
Mark you are so right. How can we expect our kids to do things when they don't see us. To be great examples for them we must be willing to do also. Show them the right way. Its crazy how they are always watching even when you think they are not.
DeleteHaving good character can be challenging at times. When you hold the position of Captain, you’re setting the example for your crew and to the public. Regardless of what you believe, the district has set safety precautions for us and it’s the responsibility for the Captain to lead by example. I know I can be more diligent about wear my mask around the station interacting with the crew.
ReplyDelete4 Traits that I believe set the foundation for strong character are: Humility, Self-awareness, Integrity, and Resilience. For my own growth I work on being resilient in failures and in successes. Rudyard Kipling writes in his poem "If" - "To trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too..." His poem paints the picture of a man seeking good Character. His advice is if you can seek to stay well grounded and balanced,"the world and all that is in it, is yours". To do this it takes a great deal of self-discipline and resilience of the urge to simply give up when times are hard, and gloat in your successes.
ReplyDeleteAs for the second question, I believe that a persons Character is the most important aspect of their leadership ability. Character supersedes all other requirements for a company officer; be it tactics, education, skill, or clout. Given hard situations, like this years Covid-19 pandemic, our Fire Districts only hope for an adequate response and receptive employees, rests on the shoulders of their Company Officers;Starting with the Fire Chief, and down the chain of command, to lead by example. As written in Developing the Leader Within You 2.0, "So much of leadership relies on good character. Trust is created though it. Talent is protected by it. Internal-peace is fostered by it. People cannot climb beyond the limitations of their character."
Question #1
ReplyDeletePeople with great character are compassionate, selfless, respectful and growth oriented. When it comes to personal development and building ones character I believe one should continuously be working on improvement. Like Maxwell says one should be growth oriented not goal oriented. I think I could personally work daily in all these areas to better myself as a person and future Captain.
Question #2
Character is vital regardless of rank title position or any status. I think someone should have good moral principles and core values and continuously improve them. The cliché saying of nobody cares about how much you know until they know about how much you care is spot on. Ones character will determine their influence and following.
Question 1
ReplyDeleteSelflessness
Goal oriented
Self management
Authenticity
Being goal oriented is that I have felt like I always have had however that is because since I was young I knew I wanted to become a firefighter so many of my actions and decisions I made growing up was towards that goal. Now that I have reached that goal that I now need to actively work on creating new long term goals to get myself motivated and to allow myself to grow and further myself in my career.
Question 2
It is necessary to have character when in a leadership role or any role in the fire service. A quote that stands out to me is “character is not what you do when no one is looking character is what you do when everyone is looking” sometimes in this line of work it can be very challenging to step up and be the one to do the hard or right thing.
Question #1
ReplyDeleteI believe 4 traits that can be found within a person of great character are, honesty, integrity, self-discipline and self-awareness. Out of the 4, I would like to improve on self-awareness. The concept of self-awareness is better understanding why you feel and behave in particular ways. This past year I regularly struggled accepting that I do not know the answers to all questions. I found I was highly critical and dissatisfied with myself when I didn’t fully understand a certain topic or skill. I believe people with great character have learned to be internally and externally self-aware and not mask their feelings or behaviors.
Question #2
ReplyDeleteI believe ones character is a vital trait, especially in a leadership role. I was once told making decisions is easy, but making the right one can be hard. Whenever I am faced with a difficulty decision, I ask myself what is the right thing to do.
Question#1
ReplyDeleteHonesty
Integrity
Courage
Self-discipline
Of these 4 traits, Self-discipline is an area of improvement. As probation comes to an end keeping myself disciplined and focused on always learning, bettering my skills, and pursuing greater goals. Understanding that this isn't the end but just the very beginning of a long career that requires constant self-discipline.
Question#2
Character in a captain position is vital. When it comes down to it a captain's character is what he or she will always revert to in times of stress or pressure. In regards to covid, the best way to lead and encourage the following of rules is to lead by example.