There are three kinds of leaders in this world:
- Firefighters: These are leaders who charge into the fray regardless of the size and scope of a situation, ready to deploy their skills and strategies to solve problems and make things better. Solving problems makes them feel good and satisfies their egos. It makes them feel necessary and important and relevant. And they are often quite good in this role. They are skilled at putting out fires. They are also some of the more incompetent and lazy leaders in this world. Most leaders fall into this category.
________________________________________________ - Smoky the Bears: These are leaders who prevent most fires from ever starting through the hard work and tedium of long term planning, relentless forethought, deep thinking, constant research, proactive procedural safeguards, and the development and institution of policies and practices following the occasional fire to prevent the next one.These leaders are much harder to find. A rare breed, indeed. Not a lazy bone in their body. They are the best of the best.
________________________________________________ - The Firestarters: These are ego driven narcissists who intentionally set fires because they are drawn to drama and the role of the savior. They care not about the feelings or needs of others but only about their sense of importance, relevance, and self perception. They are most comfortable when people are turning to them for help. They desperately need to be the center of every little thing. I worked for one of these leaders once, and it was a disaster. Thankfully, these monsters are few and far between.
