Super Leaders

(Photo: Kari Greer/USFS)



Leaders are superheroes…minus supernatural powers. Leaders choose action, involvement, influence, teamwork and responsibility. Their values and principles parallel those of superheroes.



Take a look at some of the well-known superheroes. Professor X, leader of the mutant X-Men, fights against mutants that seek humanity’s demise and tries to resolve problems between mutants and humans. Leaders create resolution. Members of the Fantastic Four deal with interpersonal issues and later are bound by teamwork. Leaders value teamwork. Iron Man chose to be remembered for his contributions rather than power. Leaders respect legacy. The Transformer Autobots are superior heroes that risk their lives to save and influence humans. Leaders see potential for development.

Leaders develop people for the future, build the team and set the example, just like superheroes. Wherever they are, leaders find needs and step forward to get involved and meet them. Instead of watching things happen, they make things happen. Leaders influence others’ thinking, challenge assumptions and create awareness of different realities. Leaders don’t need to put on a costume or morph into a character. Leaders are superheroes in themselves.

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Thanks to Jenn Smith, NIFC External Affairs and NWCG Leadership Committee member, for this blog submission.