Previously I struggled to convince myself that my employment experiences could be seen as relevant to my work creating and facilitating applied improv workshops with teams. Then someone at a conference listened to my list of experiences and told me they were all reasons he WOULD choose to trust and work with me.
Mentally it was a game changer for me.
Now I own my experiences as my strengths and my point of difference.
So yes, I was a wholetime firefighter with Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, UK. It was an experience that taught me:
🚒 there's a time to follow procedures strictly and there's a time to improvise
🚒 trying to teach by punishing mistakes is often unproductive and breeds fear
🚒 just one disillusioned person on a team can initiate a toxic environment if left unchecked
🚒 what it feels like to truly work under life or death pressure
🚒 the difference between working in a happy team versus a dysfunctional one
🚒 that the best leaders I worked under did not rule through fear or threats but through effective two-way communication
🚒 how it feels to not have a voice or the space to be authentic
🚒 that employees who feel undervalued will quickly become unmotivated and do the minimum needed
And also, that driving a fire truck at speed, through traffic, with blue lights and sirens going can be a lot of fun!
My experience in the fire service is just one element that I bring to the workshops I create and facilitate for teams. Email me to find out how my time as a firefighter can benefit your team - phil@lightswitchconsulting.ca
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