Starting 2024 with a Leadership Journal

Many of you began 2024 with goals and New Year’s resolutions (resolutions that are quickly broken). To help you develop into a better leader, create a leadership journal using your computer, phone, or yes, even paper. Pour a cup of coffee and ask yourself the following questions:

• What do I believe about leadership?
• What is my motivation for leading?
• Write down the names of the good and bad leaders you have worked for or been around, and why they fall into one of two categories.
• Jot down your past leadership experiences and include the good, the bad, and the ugly.
• As you progress through 2024 continue to update your Leadership Journal and periodically take time to reflect on what you have written.

Moving forward from this point, it is important to have the right tools in place. Next week, I’ll address that topic in more detail.

In the meantime, click the link and learn more about Tailboard Talks and how you can be part of a group of like-minded firefighters and fire officers to assist in your personal growth and development, Individual Officer Development Options – Fire Officer Leadership Academy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rick Davis is a retired battalion chief from the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) in Colorado, author of the book The Furnace of Leadership Development. He served as a firefighter for thirty-seven years and with LFRA for over twenty-nine. During his time with LFRA, Rick led the Special Operations Team, the hazardous materials team, wildland firefighting program, recruiting program, health and safety program, and served as the department’s training chief. Rick is a veteran of both the United States Air Force and United States Marine Corps.

Over the course of his career, Rick has spoken about and taught leadership and decision making to fire service, industry, and church groups. He wrote two research papers on situational awareness and tactical decision making under stress, and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Kennedy Western University, a M.S. in Executive Fire Service Leadership from Grand Canyon University, and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.

Originally from Cedarville, New Jersey, he now lives in Loveland, Colorado with his wife, Debbie, two daughters, Rebekah and Emily, and their dog, Java. Rick is a student of leadership and military history, and finds studying the Gettysburg Campaign of 1863 of great interest. He enjoys the Atlantic Ocean and walking Civil War battlefields. To invite Rick to speak at your event or organization, please contact him.