| Out in the forest or in our neighborhood, we recognize | | | | of the cat I had in childhood who chased his tail. He |
| a firefighter rather easily: a heavily-clad person, holding | | | | worked hard -- no question about that! He usually did |
| a fire hose, walking up or down a ladder, or performing | | | | not reach his goal, but when he did, he hurt himself. |
| some other tasks that reduce or end a conflagration. | | | | In thinking of this plant manager as a fire fighter, here is |
| Managers, consultants, and others are often expected | | | | the scenario that leaps to view in my mind: With limited |
| to be "fire fighters." Here we do not wear hip boots -- | | | | facts, he looks like a fire fighter because he fights fires. |
| although, come to think of it, this is a rather nifty idea. | | | | With additional facts, we discover that when no one is |
| The water we apply to the fire is taken from our pool | | | | watching, he sets the fires that make him look like a |
| of resources and skills. We use ladders to reach our | | | | hero when he douses the flame. So, the truth is he is |
| goals and comprehend the hierarchy. Fire fighting in | | | | an arsonist! |
| organizations usually means solving crisis problems or | | | | I do not want to imply that all organizational fires are |
| calming interpersonal flare ups. | | | | set intentionally by the firefighters or by anyone. Many |
| As a customer, I recently had a series of problems | | | | occur by internal combustion. Or carelessness. Or |
| (fires) while working with a plant manager in a small | | | | ignorance. Or because something needs to be burned. |
| company. I tried all the strategies I know as a | | | | Inside or outside organizations, fires and firefighting |
| consultant and manager and conflict mediator. I even | | | | offer a range of possibilities and growth opportunities. |
| resorted to complaining about him to his secretary -- I | | | | Fires and firefighting can be planned or unplanned. Fires |
| shamelessly admit that I stooped that low. She | | | | can be destructive and/or purifying. Fighting fires can |
| responded with a trace of empathy with me, as she | | | | be draining and/or satisfying. |
| rose to his defense. She mentioned how hard he | | | | What is your fire? Are you a firefighter? An arsonist? |
| works. With that comment, visions came to my mind | | | | Burned? Fired up? On fire? |