ELECTRIC LEADERS ( + or - )

ELECTRIC LEADERS (+ or -)

While speaking in beautiful Wisconsin, I began the leadership segment by introducing myself as Bo Ryan, the very successful and beloved basketball coach at UW. I talked to the class (imaginary prospective UW basketball players) about what would be expected of them IF they wished to be on OUR team and in turn what they could expect from the COACH, and the staff. I used words like winning, expectations, practice, partnerships, support, commitment, pride, goals and I outlined the past TEAM successes of the UW basketball program. Teams led by Electric Leaders, like Bo Ryan, seem to keep showing up each time that winners get together.

I guess that watchers have to have someone to watch.

March Madness always reminds me of our VCU Rams and their trip to the Final Four in 2011. VCU’s former coach, Shaka Smart, played a basketball style known as HAVOC. A former VCU assistant coach and the new VCU coach, Will Wade calls his basketball style CHAOS. Shaka Smart is electric and Will Wade will be.

Positive electric leaders are just that. They crank harder, they crank longer, they train under the big game lights, they generate interest, they power recruitment, they empower players and they maximize the electric energy of the team and they amp up and light up the arena. They bring in winners, they coach them and they watch them win. People do love winners.

My friend provided me a review of our local Incident Action Plan for the 2011 Final Four game. The VCU Arena was expecting a full house of students and fans to watch the Rams on big screens. The arena and much of the campus is in the area where I work and I was to be on duty on game night. The plan bothered me for a number of reasons. It seemed heavy on the expectation of Havoc and Chaos and the overall plan reminded me of the herding of cats. VCU is an awesome campus and the student body is one that we can all be proud of. They and the team bring positive electricity to the city.

In the Fire Service we need positive electric leaders, from the ground up and back again. The best electric leaders expect certain performance from young people IF the young people want to be on THE established team. Senior players built the program, the history, the winning ways and they have the expectation that you will not destroy it.  Winning coaches like Bo Ryan, Shaka Smart and Will Wade recognize this.

You were brought here to this proud fire service because you said that you would excel and enhance the program and because people said that you could play. Always remember that they also said that about all of the young people who came here with you. Only you will decide how good you will be. Your small town may have made you good, but how much game do you really bring to the big city? Will you become a watcher or remain a winner? Can you shoot, and think, and will you hustle and make free throws at the buzzer, when the opponent seems too strong, too hot, too large or just too damn good for you?

Remember that anybody can be a dribbler.

Will I see you at the final four or will you settle and be just another victim of havoc and chaos?

Is your leadership bringing in the great players or are they seeking out another program?

Are you leading to mediocre and complacency? Who will pay when your bill comes due?

Is your leadership IAP electric, positive, negative, building a winning program or herding cats?

Why did Pistol Pete Maravich dribble the basketball to and from school instead of riding the bus?

Thanks for reading, liking, caring and sharing.

Have a great day – it’s a GREAT day for it.