We hear an awful lot of talk about executives who are so busy rushing around fire-fighting, and I have one client whose genius (and even joy) is their ability to deal with these spontaneous combustions.  The thing is, if your time is fully occupies extinguishing fires, then there is little or no time for reflection, planning or real leadership. 

However, if the fires that occupy all your time are all created by others, and all you do is put them out, then what are they learning?  Do they see and feel the consequences of their mistake, do they build their skill at dealing with fires?  Sometimes before you reach for the wellies, fire-hose and helmet, ask “Whose fire is it anyway?”  Follow that up with :-

• “What is the worst that could happen?”
• “Is this the best use of my time?”
• “What are the alternative?” 

“Fire is never a gentle master”

“Among the notable things about fire is that it also requires oxygen to burn – exactly like its enemy, life.”  Otto Weininger