085: I Don’t Believe in Leadership by Title; I Believe in Leadership by Influence

Tom Boggus is the State Forester of Texas and the Director of Texas A&M Forest Service. Tom has worked for the State of Texas since 1980 and has been the State Forester since 2010. During this time, Tom oversaw and led the response team during the worst wildfire season in Texas history. Find out more about Tom's extensive career and his leadership principles on this week's episode!

 

Key Takeaways:

[:55] A message from Leadership Nature.

[1:35] A quick intro about Tom's background.

[3:40] How did Tom become interested in forestry?

[7:35] What was it like when Tom was in the forest service during one of the worst wildfire seasons in Texas history?

[10:50] What was Tom's first job like?

[14:25] If you don't know how to deal with or communicate with people, then you will not be successful in forestry.

[16:35] Tom shares what makes the Texas Forest Service unique and some of the landscape differences compared to other states.

[22:15] What was Tom's first leadership position like?

[27:25] People aren't going to respect a leader purely by the title. Leaders have to earn it.

[34:15] Mistakes are one thing, just don't make a habit of repeating the course.

[34:55] What's it like leading on the State Forester level?

[45:55] What does Tom wished he learned sooner in his career?

[49:35] What advice does Tom giver his new employees?

[53:45] The future is bright for forestry!

[58:55] You have to dream, but more importantly, you have to believe in the dream.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Texasforestservice.tamu.edu

A Passion for Leadership by Robert Gates

Intentional Living by John Maxwell

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout