Daniel C. Olsen, Senior Consultant, SDAO

Part II

In this article, I will share with you Leadership Principles 8-15. These principles are: 

• Principle No. 8: Be on Alert and Watch 
• Principle No. 9: Kaizen  
• Principle No. 10: Solve problems and innovate
• Principle No. 11: Take care of resources   
• Principle No. 12: Be a good steward with budget funds
• Principle No. 13: Develop Mutual beneficial relationships
• Principle No. 14: Develop - Train - Coach
• Principle No. 15: Uplift all   

Principle No. 8: Be on alert and watch 

Too often, leaders can become bogged down and rooted in their office space. This principle is about getting up, getting out. You need to be alert and watch what is going on around you. You need to pay attention and be aware of what is going on with your personnel.

Some will say you are wasting your time. I strongly disagree. It is possibly the best use of your time. It has been called “MBWA” (Managing by wandering around).

Principle No. 9: Kaizen  

Kaizen is a concept referring to business activities that continuously improve all functions and involve all employees from the CEO to the frontline workers.

The Japanese word kaizen means 'improvement' or 'change for better.’ The word refers to any improvement, whether it be one-time or continuous, large, or small, that improves your work process or workplace.

It is an improvement. Change, merely for the purpose of only change, can result in confusion and lower morale which is not going to make things better. Be sure, you are making an improvement with the changes you make.

Principle No. 10: Solve problems  

As a leader, you will encounter problems. You need to solve problems. As a leader, you solve problems. Too often, people encounter a problem, and they may seek to make an excuse or place blame or deny there is a problem. Seek solutions. Seek innovative solutions.

Be a problem solver. Fix it, correct it, clean it, or inform someone—but whatever you do, solve the problem.

Principle No. 11: Take care of resources

How well are your resources being used and taken care of? How often are they replaced? Your resources include facilities, apparatus/vehicles, tools. supplies, and information.

Are your resources being misused or abused?

A Fire Captain I once knew would take new recruits to the engine bay, and ask them who the Engine belonged to? The most common answers were “the Department” or the firefighters.

The Captain would then tell them that the Engine belonged to the citizens of the District. The firefighters were responsible for taking good care of it.

Be a good steward with the resources you are entrusted to use and care for. Their use, maintenance, repair, and replacement.

Principle No. 12: Be a good steward with budget funds

Yes, monetary funds are a primary resource. You have a role in being a good steward. As a Fire Chief/Chief Budget Officer, I was responsible for the proper administration of adopted budget funds.

As Fire Chief, I assigned the allocated funds to line officers. (Yes, this was controversial.) Those line officers had the authority, within specific limits and guidelines, to expend funds. I found that these officers did an outstanding job in managing the funds assigned to them. It created opportunities for developing their skills.

Principle No. 13:  Develop mutually beneficial relationships

Relationships should be beneficial for all participants involved.

One should not take advantage of or exploit another in a relationship.

These relationships should be reinforced and strengthened by honest communication, respect and building trust.

Principle No. 14: Develop - Train - Coach

Develop your volunteers. Provide formal and structured training necessary to do their job. Coach them at every opportunity, reinforcing what they do right and correcting when necessary.

You will find there are many different opportunities for developing your personnel. Look at and create those times and opportunities.

Principle No. 15: Uplift the human spirit.

Your emphasis should be on uplifting the spirit of your personnel. Often, people think that a leader’s role is to dole out punitive discipline. Take corrective action when necessary, but focus on uplifting the human spirit.

Do not limit yourself to subordinates. You can also uplift the spirit of your peers and superiors. Let them know when they are doing well. Provide them with positive and constructive comments and feedback.

Appreciate others. Assume the best, not the worst about people. You have a choice. You can give others a boost up the ladder of life or a knock down. Choose to give them a bump up and not a knock down whenever you can do so.

Let them know they are doing a good job and explain why.

As a leader in your organization, your daily routine provides opportunities to implement the fifteen principles I have presented here. These leadership principles will assist you in the opportunities to Plan, Prepare, Execute and Assess to bring out the best in your people and organization.

  The Fifteen Principles for Volunteer Leaders are:

• Principle No. 1: Communicate in a clear and consistent direction.
• Principle No. 2: Deliver a quality service to your community.
• Principle No. 3: Interact with others in a positive and professional manner.
• Principle No. 4: Act in congruence with the Vision, Mission, Priorities and Values of your organization.
• Principle No. 5: Make sound decisions.
• Principle No. 6: Be accountable.
• Principle No. 7: Influence others by your conduct.
• Principle No. 8: Be on alert and watch 
• Principle No. 9: Kaizen  
• Principle No. 10: Solve problems and innovate
• Principle No. 11: Take care of resources   
• Principle No. 12: Be a good steward with budget funds
• Principle No. 13: Develop mutually beneficial relationships
• Principle No. 14: Develop - Train - Coach
• Principle No. 15: Uplift the Human Spirit

I encourage you to reflect on these leadership principles and identify specific ways you can incorporate them into your daily interactions and responsibilities. By doing so, you'll strengthen your impact as a leader and inspire those around you.