Do You Light Fires or Extinguish Flames

By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Several years ago, one of my nursing administration students did a practicum experience with her Chief Nursing Officer. She was thrilled at the opportunity to do this and had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. As we did the practicum debrief, we talked about the future goals of the student. The student indicated that she hoped to be a CNO. Her CNO preceptor looked at her and said “that will never happen.” I was stunned by the remark. The student’s eyes welled up with tears. I said to the CNO that I had learned long ago not to underestimate what people are capable of doing. I spent about one hour with the student after this meeting trying to do damage control. The student was very talented and there was no reason for the CNO to have said this to her.

She left the organization shortly after this episode and has since with the help of a great mentor moved into a CNO role. Her confidence was badly shaken by a leader who tried to extinguish her flame of enthusiasm for leadership. Fortunately it was rekindled by a thoughtful leader who understood how devastating the experience had been. The inventor and philosopher Albert Schweitzer once said “in everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fires goes out. It is then burst into flames by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful to those people who rekindle our inner spirit”.

It was a good reminder that not all leaders practice transformational leadership. Are you a fire starter or a flame extinguisher? The following are some key questions you can ask yourself:

Fire Starter Behaviors

Do you show compassion when a staff member is having difficult challenges?
Do you look for the strengths of your staff members and not focus on weaknesses?
Do you individualize your leadership to meet the needs of your staff?
Do you show encouragement for innovation?
Do you give staff stretch assignments to help them grow?
Do you celebrate staff achievements?
Do you encourage a culture of learning?
Do you communicate and communicate and communicate?
Do you give hope during challenging times?
Do you listen with your eyes, your ears and your heart?
Do you show appreciation to others?
Do you look for opportunities to help others shine?
Do you give credit to others for their work?
Are you passionate and enthusiastic?

Fire Extinguisher Behaviors

Do you blame others for your leadership failures?
Are you threatened by high performing staff?
Do you focus on deficits instead of strengths?
Do you use words like “no”, “but”, “however” in conversations about new ideas?
Do you fail to listen to viewpoints that are different than your own?
Do you hesitate to acknowledge when you are wrong?
Are you pessimistic during times of instability?
Do you believe staff are lucky to have a job?
Do you feel staff should leave their personal problems at home?
Do you fail to give others second chances?
Do you withhold information that would be valuable to helping others?
Do you lack passion for your work?
Are you unapproachable?
Do fail to respond to messages?
Do you spend most of your day in your office?

Fire starter leaders love to coach, mentor and develop others. They look for the best in the individual and leave a very rich legacy when their work is done. By contrast, fire extinguishers cause stress, burnout and disengagement in staff who work with and for them. Which one would you rather work for?