Leadership Lessons: "Standing on the Shoulders Of Giants"

“Standing on the shoulders of giants” is a proverb meant to describe the process of using the understanding gained by major thinkers who have gone before in order to make intellectual progress. As I begin the process of writing columns under the title of Leadership Lessons, I am truly humbled to be “standing on the shoulders of a giant,” the late Dr. Kimberly “Kim” Alyn, who authored this column from February 2011 to December 2012.She also wrote writing numerous leadership feature articles for Firehouse^® and taught leadership classes at Firehouse conferences. Based on the foresight of my predecessor, the fire service continues to understand the complexities of leadership in these challenging times.

Dr. Alyn was an expert in her field and presented complex theories in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-implement manner so they could be used by all members of the fire service, especially those in formal leadership positions. With this foundation, I am proud to carry on our Kim’s legacy and share my insight with you in the hope that the information shared will benefit you, your organization and your communities alike.

How learning occurs

Since 1993, I have been proud to be a member of the fire service. I have been a member of volunteer, combination and career fire departments. While I have experienced many successes in my career, I have also had quite a few failures along the way. I have learned many things from a variety of sources: formal education, mentors, heuristics (trial and error) and by listening and watching others get it right. I will be the first to admit that I do not have all the answers and that there has been numerous times when I got it wrong.

A critical element of leadership is being able to learn from teachable moments as they present themselves, regardless of how painful the lesson may have be or felt at the time. I was once asked what I would change in my life and career if I had the opportunity to do it over again, my response was nothing. All of my experiences have helped shaped me into the person I am today. I am perfectly flawed, but like you I am not ignorant; I am willing to learn and push forward no matter the odds to push the fire service forward.

As we embark upon this journey together, I want to; no I need to hear from you. Please share with me the topics you would like presented. As perception drives reality (see D. Stine, Decision Making: A leadership Model, 1996), the intent of Leadership Lessons is to add to your leadership toolbox. However and as you already know, all the answers and possible approaches will not be touched upon in one article. As leadership is situational (see P. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, 2007), it is incumbent to have a keen sense of situational awareness to correctly assess the situation and then employ the correct leadership solution, much the same way we do on the emergency scene.

The challenges confronting the fire service demand that we never stop learning, adapt to changes in our operating environment, and we never settle upon outdated concepts to solve current issues. However, caution must also be taken not to abandon tried and true principles. As homeland security consultant and retired Battalion Chief Dave Agan of Orange County, FL, Fire Rescue says, when the only tool you carry in your toolbox is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail.

In closing, it is an honor and privilege to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Alyn and work with you to offer ideas, concepts and solutions to the issues confronting today’s fire service.

Please contact me with your feedback and suggestions for article topics at [email protected]. Stay low, stay safe and train everyday!