Texas Fire Chief - Spring/Summer 2009 - (Page 31)

the five elements of communication: source, message, channel, receiver, perception. Genuine leaders retreat from imposition and bring to task inspiration. They recognize that leadership is more about influence than power and more about people than position. In a broad sense, leaders recognize that they work with other leaders—never subordinates. Ultimately, each person who works with you can be perceived as a leader—influencing, inspiring, communicating. Although there are Uppercase and lowercase leaders, leadership is too grand of a thing to limit it to so few. There is a leader within you. The perception-connection question is clear: What do they see when they see you coming? How your team members perceive you is your leadership-business. Further exploring of perception, the fifth element of communication, will prove helpful. a reaction from another that is much stronger than you expected. In reality, you are precipitating the “persimmonizing” of another—perhaps leading them to go back to an uncomfortable experience. Perception Perception is driven by the perceiver—from underneath a “Thatch Hut!” Past experiences and perspectives determine, to a large degree, what others see when they see you coming. I am a Tale of Thatch In my heart, I wear a patch. If you wonder what it’s like to be like me, You must fi rst consider what I see. What I see depends on what I’ve seen. Where I am relates to where I’ve been. My past hurt is till my major thrust. My patch holds firm until I trust. Please come visit my Thatch Hut. I do not wish that we stay in a rut. Perhaps, if you discover what I see, Then together we can be all we are meant to be. The Eight P’s of Perception Personality. Do not allow the hurdles of assumption, generalization and routine to diminish your attempts at strength affirmation. Persistence. Beaten dead horses equal broken spirits. Resist the urge to remember the negative so well that you allow the positive to quickly evaporate. Dispense some slack. Performance. Expectations minus examples equal exasperation. You cannot give what you do not have. You will give what you do have. Presentation. Channel your nervous energy so it works for you rather than against you. Pay the preparation price. Preoccupation. Battle the tendency to be there “without being there.” Remember, your preoccupation will leak out and be perceived as indifference. Your eyes will give you away. Peaks. We do not grow in straightline fashion. Growth is process, not single event. We travel by detour. No one is normal. Punishment. “Uh-oh” minus “Ah-hah” equals “Oh no.” If you ask “What do they see when they see you coming?”and you think they rarely see an “Ah-hah,” then re-examination might be appropriate. Praise. We do not grow when you incessantly put us down. We grow when you lead by affi rming us at the point of our strengths. Interpret K-I-S-S from a different perspective: Keep It Specific Somehow! Praise must pass the SAST Test— Specific, Appropriate, Selective and Timely. Managers, coordinators, and directors of 9-1-1 communication centers, remember: “Leadership is not what it used to be. Clean and polish the leader within you!” The Five Mega Truths of Perception Your microphone is always on! It is particularly alive when you are tired, angry, frustrated, in the midst of partying, or after you have partied. Remember you are always sending out messages. We do not have the same starting points, nor do we run/learn at the same pace! Our experiences, strengths, weaknesses and attitudes are different from each other as are our unique personalities. Unfortunately, our tendency is to forget or ignore this reality, and thus assume that we are similar at point of start and pace. We do not speak the same language, even if we all speak English. The idea that a word or phrase means the same thing to everyone is a huge misconception. What I say and what you hear can be very different. What is insignificant to you can be extremely significant to someone else! What you say and do can cause TEXAS FIRE CHIEF Spring/Summer 2009 TEXAS FIRE CHIEF Spring/ EX I I n Stephen M. Gower, Certified Speaking Professional, is respected across the country as the “Architect of Leadership Re-Think” and as the “Perception Professional.” He is a speaker who is grounded in benefits for his audiences. Stephen has given more than 5,000 presentations and is the bestselling author of 20 books. He was the educational keynote for IAFC in Dallas, has spoken twice for IAFC-VCOS, the National Fire Executives Conference (twice), and numerous state fire associations and local fire departments. For keynotes and general session presentations, call (800) 242-7404 or e-mail smg@ stephengower.com. 31

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Texas Fire Chief - Spring/Summer 2009 Contents Executive Director's Report 2009 Annual Conference Preview Hurricane Resistant Fire Stations in South Texas Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System The IAFC and TV Worldwide Launch IAFC TV KITA and Firefighter Motivation TFCA Legislator Award What Do They See When They See You Coming? Texas Fire Chiefs Academy Standing Tall Lake Travis Fire Rescue Answers the Call 2009 TFCA Executive Board TFCA Region Map Index to Advertisers

Texas Fire Chief - Spring/Summer 2009

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