FIRE Archives - Wheeler Coaching Systems

I was in the backyard cleaning up the bushes I had cut down and to save some garbage bags I built a fire to burn a lot of the remnants. As I was going back and forth feeding the fire I was thinking about how this is similar to keeping our leadership passion alive.

Let’s be honest. There are days we get a dip, and the original passion is not there. We get frustrated with life and the responsibilities of leading. Or we are simply tired and need a break. As I thought about this fire concept, I thought of four places we could be when it comes to our passion for leading.

Leaves

When you put leaves on the fire they burn fast and make a cool crackling sound sometimes. They are fun to watch but flame out and increase the smoke.

This is what I would call squirrel leadership. We get excited because some external force like a book, a conference, or a conversation gets us excited. When everyone around us is excited, we are excited, but then we flame out quickly. This kind of leadership leaves people frustrated because we have no sustained focus.

Twigs

As I was working on this project, it was exhausting. I was dealing with a bunch of leaves and twigs. Twigs burn longer than leaves, but to keep the fire going I had to constantly go back and forth adding more twigs.

This is experience leadership. We are fired up when we get the new deal, are at the event or whatever gives us that dopamine rush. Then we flame out until we find the next deal, new project, event, etc.

This kind of leadership leaves (no pun intended) people exhausted. Similar to above, the leader has a lack of focus. Unlike above, the leader gets excited about a new vision after some experience and the team doesn’t experience consistency. The leader is either high or low and the team is never sure what they will get.

Logs

When I build a fire to relax around and talk I throw on some logs. There are twigs to get us started, but the logs keep the fire burning consistently. Occasionally I have to turn the log or put another on the fire, which creates a long, slow burn.

This is steady leadership. A leader who is like a log has a deep, steady passion for what he or she leads. This is a leader who is clear on the vision but will adjust the plan strategically to accomplish it. This leader brings reassurance to the team that we are going somewhere and there is a plan.

Embers

These come after logs have burned down. They look cool from afar, but if you get your hand close they are intensely hot. These are what you use to cook your hotdog or slowly roast a nice brown marshmallow.

This is intense and confident leadership. The logs have burned down to embers meaning time has passed, and the vision is clearly working because there is still a fire. This leader from afar looks calm and collected, but up close, he or she has just as much passion as in the beginning. The passion is actually hotter because the results have strengthened the leader’s confidence.

Which of these resonates with where your passion for your vision is now? Are you flaming out as quickly as you are excited? Do you need to get around others who will help you learn and grow to light your fire? Do you need to tweak your vision and add another log? Is it time to light others on fire with your burning embers? Leadership is influence, and fires start with a tiny spark. What do you need to light your fire, or whose fire do you need to light today? Need a thinking partner to give a little oxygen to help strengthen your fire? Contact me for a one-on-one coaching session to think into your leadership. Keep the fire burning and lead well.