If the title of this blog caught your interest, chances are either you or someone you know share one or both of the experiences common to many leaders.
It is easy to get consumed by the work load. After all, every one is depending on the leader to get the job done. Here are a couple symptoms of a leader getting caught in the “firefighter” syndrome:
- I’m always fighting fires! And there are so many of them across the horizon that real work never gets done. You know, the strategic things, things that make a real difference, solve the real problem, work on success instead of preventing failure.
- I feel like I’m drinking from a fire hose! There is so much work to be done and so little time to do it. Urgent tasks come in a steady, high-volume stream, and prevent any attempt at strategic activities or organization.
Being the hero who always saves the day and leaps over tall buildings in a single bound is very rewarding. It’s a real adrenalin rush. The question is, however, how sustainable is this? What is the leader’s real job?
Here are some ways to break out of fire fighting.
- Depend on your team. Your role as a leader is to build a team that can do the job. Build it.
- Delegate responsibility to the team. Once you’ve built the team, give them the responsibility. One of the best ways to inspire your team is to let them know you trust them to solve the crisis, make the decision, or get the job done.
- Hold the team accountable. Let there be no mistake. You trust them with the responsibility – they must also be accountable for the results.
Don’t try to be a hero – instead create a heroic team!
Contributed by Bob McAuliffe. Bob works with technology and business leaders to forge a strong partnership and increase the value they contribute to the bottom line. He can be contacted via email at bob@xcution.com
Reid Henry
Jane Henry
I agree that a leader must rely on their team- I have found that many times leaders may rely on their teams too much and do not see the smoke that is building. Leaders must effectively do all three of your suggestions in unison or there is no balance to the team or its leadership.