Fire Drill Management

Cheers to the leaders that will cast a vision for their team, then stay singularly committed to that vision. They stand to avoid the pitfalls and fire drills that befall many teams. To be certain, some emergencies are unavoidable. However, we too often serve as both the firefighter and the arsonist.

The solution for you, my fire weary friend, is to ensure your time is fully committed to projects that support the vision of the leader. When you look at the work that must get done in any organization, there will be a certain portion that directly supports the vision, and a portion that is basically administrivia. Volunteer early and often for the projects that directly support the vision. When the inevitable fire is making its rounds, you will be fire resistant due to the "nature" of the projects you are on. There will be the occasional fire drill that you want to hop in, from an exposure standpoint or skill building standpoint, but you will want to have positioned yourself to be selective. The unsavvy employee, working on lower value work, will often be drafted.

When it's time to award promotions and bonuses, no one is getting kudos for a great job on administrivia. Most of the random fire drills will be a distant memory. People will remember those who were significant contributors on work that supported the vision. Strategically manage your fire drill participation to position yourself for true success.