What does that mean exactly?

People are our greatest asset. I hear that phrase all the time but what does it really mean.  Is it being overused to the point that the meaning has been lost?  No one is really able to tell me what it means to them.  At least what it means to them and not just some book answer.  Quantify that or give me an example I say and a weak response will soon follow.  I want you to think about it for real and come up with your own answer before you read on.  Now don’t get me wrong I believe in it.  I just seem to have my own definition that only a few share or care.  People….all of them are the departments greatest asset….tool, idea source, center of our chi, doer of things, maker of connections, teacher of our mission, progress initiator, the list goes on.  It’s how we as a department move forward.  As a leader I feel the responsibility to inspire my people to do all these things and embody the mission we live to support.  The next question you must ask is how?  How can we as a leadership core inspire greatness from our team members?  Firefighter’s, not just members, they have after all earned that title.  That in itself is the way we can inspire our people.  By respecting them for being right where they are.  Firefighters in the Seattle Fire Department.  Faith and belief in the validity of their ideas, thoughts and actions simply because they have made it here.  That no matter how long it’s been since their probie year there is still a motivated firefighter inside all of them.  It’s on us to remind them why we are here every day.  To remind them of the importance of our mission to the citizens and to our fellow Fire Fighters.   I know what your saying right now reading this “That’s a bit naive Mike” or maybe it’s idealistic to the point of delusional.  None the less I strive to live by this.  I do it by treating them as assets every day I work with them.  Just because I have rank does not make me a better man then one without rank.  In the same light a chief is not a better man then me nor am I better than he.  I took a test to become an officer but it was more to see if I could dedicate myself to something than to see how smart I am.  Somewhere about halfway through the oral board it hits you.  I need to embrace these fake emergencies and accept them in a way that a boxer accepts a black eye.  Accept your people for all their good and bad.  Respect them for being here but inspire them to be more than just here.