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Fire Service Leadership
What kind of Leader do you want to be?
In my 18 years in the fire service I have learned a lot of useful information. I had no formal leadership training yet made my way through the ranks to Captain. With that being said, I learned by observing what others did to learn what to do and most importantly what not to do. I remember my first Capt. lets call him Bill. He was a large burly guy who came across as a knowledgeable yet forceful fellow. At the Firehouse he could be laughing and joking one minute and the next his face was red and he was yelling and cussing. He seemed to have an anger issue not only with fellow firefighters but with the public as well. I learned a lot from him. What not to do of course. I have worked many of shifts with different Captains and Chiefs over the years and I take credit for the role I am in today because of it.
As firefighters especially career based, we not only work together but live together as well. I tell my new rookies its similar to a marriage where each person has to adapt to the others. Unlike an assembly line worker who you work with daily, punch the clock and go home we seem to share our good times and bad times with each other and know a little bit more about each others personal lives. In a sense that's what makes us close. The problems I see and have faced seem to be when a Captain or Officer in charge wants everything his/her way with no regard for the others around them. They need to remember that its called a crew for a reason. Do not bring your personal pet peeves or differences and force them on your subordinates. Let everyone have a say in your activities, training, inspections, etc. Don't feel like you will be viewed as weak for this, because in the long run you will be respected more, earned respect. Not only will you be respected for your rank but most importantly you as a person.
How many times have you had to respect a rank but not the person filling the position? How many times have you been in the presence of someone which you felt like respect was demanded? Ask yourself these questions and always be tuned in to others feelings. Call it a Crew, a Team or call it Family because that's what it is. What kind of leader do you want to be? I have made my decision.
Capt. Mike Walker
Little Rock Fire Dept.
Engine 14
In my 18 years in the fire service I have learned a lot of useful information. I had no formal leadership training yet made my way through the ranks to Captain. With that being said, I learned by observing what others did to learn what to do and most importantly what not to do. I remember my first Capt. lets call him Bill. He was a large burly guy who came across as a knowledgeable yet forceful fellow. At the Firehouse he could be laughing and joking one minute and the next his face was red and he was yelling and cussing. He seemed to have an anger issue not only with fellow firefighters but with the public as well. I learned a lot from him. What not to do of course. I have worked many of shifts with different Captains and Chiefs over the years and I take credit for the role I am in today because of it.
As firefighters especially career based, we not only work together but live together as well. I tell my new rookies its similar to a marriage where each person has to adapt to the others. Unlike an assembly line worker who you work with daily, punch the clock and go home we seem to share our good times and bad times with each other and know a little bit more about each others personal lives. In a sense that's what makes us close. The problems I see and have faced seem to be when a Captain or Officer in charge wants everything his/her way with no regard for the others around them. They need to remember that its called a crew for a reason. Do not bring your personal pet peeves or differences and force them on your subordinates. Let everyone have a say in your activities, training, inspections, etc. Don't feel like you will be viewed as weak for this, because in the long run you will be respected more, earned respect. Not only will you be respected for your rank but most importantly you as a person.
How many times have you had to respect a rank but not the person filling the position? How many times have you been in the presence of someone which you felt like respect was demanded? Ask yourself these questions and always be tuned in to others feelings. Call it a Crew, a Team or call it Family because that's what it is. What kind of leader do you want to be? I have made my decision.
Capt. Mike Walker
Little Rock Fire Dept.
Engine 14
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chris Tomlinson on
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I think something else a leader needs to be clear on is that there is a time to be a "friend" and a time to be the "boss". That's probably one of the toughest things to deal with in the volunteer service for a couple of reasons. For one the majority of us spend all day/night at work dealing with, listening to and obeying a "boss". Then to arrive at the fire station for an event or emergency and feel like you're being bossed around again can be trying.
Having said that, there still needs to be the understanding that a structure of leadership and command whether it's career or volunteer.
~Chris
Fire Department Web Design -
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Permalink Reply by Mike Walker on
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That's a very good point Chris, I was also a volunteer for 7 years and at the time was a Captain. The problems I saw within the Volunteer structure was that it was what it is "Volunteerism". In that I found individuals who would do what they wanted because unlike paid service, this is our job, it feeds our families and with that we tend to stay within the para-military structure more closely. Some volunteers would simply say "I will just quit" and the fact they could because they still had their day jobs. To me it takes more Leadership abilities and a lot of respect to lead a volunteer organization. I have not been a volunteer for many years but still get disgusted hearing the term "volunteer vs. Professional". The fact is paid or volunteer, we are all professionals.
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Permalink Reply by Billy Schmidt on
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One of my mentors (we called him "Capa Bear") told me plain and simple, "Your crew will take their cue from you." They are watching, and our personal attitude and abilities will have the most significant impact on their safety, attitudes, and performance. Seems to me the team (crew) leader really sets the tone. That's the kind of leader I try to be. I try to set the right tone.
- Billy -
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Permalink Reply by Randy Rutheford jr. on
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I was thrown onto a capt. position with very little experance in Aug, and I fell the same way. But I have been told many times already, "Thats weak, and your guys will walk all over you." Is there a fine line? and if so how do I walk it?
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