Triumphs and Failures: An honest take on a leader's journey
#LeadersWanted My phone rings, and when I look down, I see that it's the fire chief calling. I know exactly why since the rumor mill had...
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Benjamin Martin
Aug 29, 20194 min read
We Reap What Leader's Take the Time to Sow
#LeadersWanted The other day I had a chance to take a transfer to a neighboring station and found our battalion chief standing by the...
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Benjamin Martin
Jul 20, 20194 min read
The Enemy is the Stuff Trying to Kill Us: Not Other Firefighters
#LeadersWanted Imagine a fire service where two people could disagree passionately on things, and one person stands out because of the...
1,216 views0 comments
Benjamin Martin
May 7, 20193 min read
Cowardice from the Cheap Seats
#LeadersWanted I was standing in the parking lot of our training center shooting the breeze with a few guys when one of them said, "Hey...
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Benjamin Martin
Apr 6, 20195 min read
Confronting the Loudest Voice in the Room: How to Silence Critics
#LeadersWanted Early in the morning a single vehicle went over the interstate guardrail into a steel traffic pole. I arrived as the first...
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Benjamin Martin
Apr 5, 20197 min read
Do You Know Your Job? The Dangers of "That's Good Enough"
#LeadersWanted So let's talk about...knowing your job. I opened the rear compartment of the truck and grabbed a 24 foot ground ladder. I...
1,344 views0 comments
Benjamin Martin
Mar 15, 20194 min read
I Don't Trust You: A Leader's Nightmare
#LeadersWanted I hate to admit it, but unfortunately, as a leader I know what the words I don’t trust you sound like. I had spent...
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Benjamin Martin
Mar 13, 20196 min read
Artificial Experience: Shortcutting Today's Fire Service
#LeadersWanted “What happens when you can’t just Google the answer?” I remember very vividly the Mayday! Firefighter Down portion of my...
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Benjamin Martin
Mar 13, 20195 min read
The Potential of Having Problems
#LeadersWanted I recently got the chance to spend a whopping nine days in a row with my family in Florida and the Bahamas. For me, this...
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Benjamin Martin
Jan 11, 20194 min read
Is your leadership distracted by accolades?
#LeadersWanted "Let the accolades come in their own time as a result of your work, not as the reason why you work." I recently received a...
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Benjamin Martin
Dec 13, 20183 min read
The Abuse of Power
#LeadersWanted Power. Far too often people overestimate what they could do if only they had rank or position in their department. They...
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Benjamin Martin
Nov 13, 20184 min read
Do you really care about Brotherhood?
#LeadersWanted While teaching the latest batch of probationary firefighters during a relay pumping scenario, I started to use the terms...
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Benjamin Martin
Aug 6, 20184 min read
The Importance of Rooting for Underdogs
#LeadersWanted When you are into this job it's pretty obvious. My Facebook is flooded by videos and pictures by these kinds of folks,...
154 views0 comments
Benjamin Martin
Jul 10, 20184 min read
Complacent and Actively Disengaged: What can be done about correcting poor attitudes?
#LeadersWanted Have you ever had a conversation with someone whose outlook or attitude about the fire service is so crappy you either...
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Benjamin Martin
Jun 17, 20188 min read
Micromanaging Isn't Leading
#LeadersWanted There is no greater disservice as a leader to our teams than to micromanage them. It baffles my mind that micromanaging...
1,193 views0 comments
Benjamin Martin
Feb 17, 20174 min read
Letting Go of Ego and Learning From Failure
#LeadersWanted Almost five years ago I had the opportunity to attend the life-changing training experience offered by the Nozzle Forward...
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Benjamin Martin
Jun 6, 20164 min read
The Enemies of Building and Maintaining Trust
#LeadersWanted Trust is a value and feeling that occurs in ourselves, our teams, and our organizations. Creating and maintaining trust is...
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Benjamin Martin
Apr 6, 20165 min read
The Courage to Lead Amongst Rumors and Half-Truths
#LeadersWanted "When a toxic person can no longer control you, they will try to control how others see you. The misinformation will feel...
441 views0 comments
Benjamin Martin
Dec 29, 20157 min read
Social Media Landmines
#LeadersWanted Photographs and journals are important tools in which to capture fire service culture. Stroll through any firehouse and...
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Benjamin Martin
May 6, 20159 min read
Leaving a Legacy vs. Having an Impact: I'm in Conflict
#LeadersWanted "They'll remember us for this" Can I be honest? I think any time the topic of maintaining proper life and work balance...
1,321 views0 comments
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