Posts by Rick Davis
Complacency, a Psychological Obstacle
Prior to the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s involvement in World War II, there was a general feeling in our country that the war in Europe and Asia was not an American problem. This attitude was also prevalent with many members of the U.S. military. In Dwight D. Eisenhower’s book,…
Read MoreWhen the Home Crowd Cheers for the Opposition. What Is Wrong with That Picture? Part 4
I have written this series based on my observations of fan behavior when the Colorado Rockies played a home game in Denver. What is the reason behind many people rooting for the opposing team and not the Rockies? What is wrong with this picture? Why does the crowd in the home city of Denver sound…
Read MoreWhen the Home Crowd Cheers for the Opposition. What Is Wrong with That Picture? Part 3
This series is based on my observations of the fan base, or lack thereof when the Colorado Rockies play a home game in Denver. I have noticed many people rooting for the opposing team and not the Rockies. What is wrong with this picture? Why does the crowd in the home city of Denver sound…
Read MoreWhen the Home Crowd Cheers for the Opposition. What Is Wrong with That Picture? Part 2
This series is based on my observations of the fan base, or lack thereof when the Colorado Rockies play a home game in Denver. I have noticed many people rooting for the opposing team and not the Rockies. What is wrong with this picture? In his book, Organizational Culture and Leadership, Edgar H. Schein wrote,…
Read MoreWhen the Home Crowd Cheers for the Opposition. What Is Wrong with That Picture? Part 1
Imagine that you play for a professional baseball team and you are in your home stadium. You made it to the big leagues and are excited to play for your team in front of thousands of fans at home. As you take to the field you notice something disturbing. There are more fans wearing hats,…
Read MoreStandards Matter More Than Excuses
Every organization has standards, but standards only matter when leaders are willing to consistently enforce them. When supervisors excuse poor performance or overlook bad behavior, they are taking the risk of lowering the standards for everyone. In the fire service, standards exist for a reason. We train to perform under pressure because lives depend on…
Read MoreLeadership Development Happens in Difficult Moments
Most newly promoted fire department officers spend years preparing for the technical aspects of the job such as studying strategy and tactics, building construction, incident command, etc. However, they may soon discover the greatest leadership challenge isn’t a tactical issue but relational one instead. Personnel problems test leadership in ways emergency scenes cannot. Handling conflict,…
Read MoreAre You Protecting Your People or Enabling Them?
Strong leaders care for the people who work for them. Good leaders mentor, support, and help their team members succeed. However, there is a significant difference between protecting people and enabling poor behavior. Too often, leaders confuse loyalty with avoidance. A supervisor may excuse repeated tardiness, poor attitudes, or lack of accountability because they want…
Read MoreThe High Cost of Avoiding Conflict
There are too many fire department officers that unintentionally weaken their authority because they avoid conflict. Rather than confronting a crew member about mediocre performance, they push the issue up the chain of command and hope someone else handles it. While this may provide temporary relief, it creates long-term damage for both the officer and…
Read MoreCourage in the Quiet Moments
For firefighters, leadership courage is often measured on the fireground, but some of the most important moments of courage happen at the station. Most firefighters have no problem charging into a burning structure, making a difficult rescue, or operating in chaotic conditions. Yet many company officers struggle when it comes to confronting poor performance or…
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