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Respect: Earned or Given?
Respect is a word that is used too frequently in the fire service and in many cases is not used correctly or in the correct context. We use the chain of command for our emergency scenes and for our communication and disciplinary actions. The guy at the top is the Chief and is the ultimate superior in that chain and organizational chart. Although being at the top demands respect, it should not be assumed that it is there waiting for you when you move up the ranks. Respect is earned, not given.
I have witnessed many an officer that has gotten promoted and believed that he is automatically due the respect of his crew and of the organization. This creates a real problem for both the officer and his crew from the onset. The officer feels rejected because he is not receiving the respect he feels he deserves and the crew feels forced into following a leader who is perceived to be power hungry. Both sides are wrong and only good communication and mutual respect for each other will cure this ailment.
As an officer, you have added responsibility and become a management tool in one form or another. Although you have just been promoted and will now be viewed as an officer, your people will recall your prior actions to determine your initial level of respectability. Right, wrong or indifferent, what you did and how you acted and how you treated others before you were promoted will play a large role in how you are viewed and their respect for you or lack of respect will be based on those previous observations.
It is very difficult for power mongers to earn respect from his/her people. The officer that puts himself above his people is doomed to fail and discord will surround him and it will filter down through the organization. The harder an officer tries to demand and gain respect when he has done nothing to earn it, the faster he loses credibility and the more transparent he becomes in regards to his motives and values. It will not take long for this officer to feel frustrated and unwelcome in many circles in the fire house.
The officer who demands respect and does not earn it is typically one who feels that he “deserves” what he has and that the title dictates that he be respected. Although the position must be respected, the person who fills that title can do little to gain the respect of his peers and subordinates unless he takes steps to earn the respect by his actions and attitudes. It is not enough to wear a gold badge and some trumpets to get respect; you must put the organization and the people that you are supposed to lead before yourself. Over time, by putting others first, an officer will slowly earn the respect of his people and peers. But, it won’t happen overnight.
Being promoted is more than wearing a white shirt and gold badge; it is a responsibility to make the organization a better place when you leave it. One of the primary jobs of an officer is to make sure the person that takes your place is better than you are. If that is not accomplished, the organization becomes stagnant and reactive. I like to look at it as a pond vs. a stream. The pond sits and grows algae and gets a film on it from the water just sitting. It is not inviting to drink from or swim in to cool off. Sometimes it even stinks. The stream is clear, cool and refreshing. You would not hesitate to cool off in this stream and to fill your canteen from it. The area is clean and the rocks are smoothed over from the many years of the stream flowing over them. Which is your organization? The fresh, cool, free running stream or the dank, scummy pond? Your leaders must decide where they would rather swim.
I have witnessed many an officer that has gotten promoted and believed that he is automatically due the respect of his crew and of the organization. This creates a real problem for both the officer and his crew from the onset. The officer feels rejected because he is not receiving the respect he feels he deserves and the crew feels forced into following a leader who is perceived to be power hungry. Both sides are wrong and only good communication and mutual respect for each other will cure this ailment.
As an officer, you have added responsibility and become a management tool in one form or another. Although you have just been promoted and will now be viewed as an officer, your people will recall your prior actions to determine your initial level of respectability. Right, wrong or indifferent, what you did and how you acted and how you treated others before you were promoted will play a large role in how you are viewed and their respect for you or lack of respect will be based on those previous observations.
It is very difficult for power mongers to earn respect from his/her people. The officer that puts himself above his people is doomed to fail and discord will surround him and it will filter down through the organization. The harder an officer tries to demand and gain respect when he has done nothing to earn it, the faster he loses credibility and the more transparent he becomes in regards to his motives and values. It will not take long for this officer to feel frustrated and unwelcome in many circles in the fire house.
The officer who demands respect and does not earn it is typically one who feels that he “deserves” what he has and that the title dictates that he be respected. Although the position must be respected, the person who fills that title can do little to gain the respect of his peers and subordinates unless he takes steps to earn the respect by his actions and attitudes. It is not enough to wear a gold badge and some trumpets to get respect; you must put the organization and the people that you are supposed to lead before yourself. Over time, by putting others first, an officer will slowly earn the respect of his people and peers. But, it won’t happen overnight.
Being promoted is more than wearing a white shirt and gold badge; it is a responsibility to make the organization a better place when you leave it. One of the primary jobs of an officer is to make sure the person that takes your place is better than you are. If that is not accomplished, the organization becomes stagnant and reactive. I like to look at it as a pond vs. a stream. The pond sits and grows algae and gets a film on it from the water just sitting. It is not inviting to drink from or swim in to cool off. Sometimes it even stinks. The stream is clear, cool and refreshing. You would not hesitate to cool off in this stream and to fill your canteen from it. The area is clean and the rocks are smoothed over from the many years of the stream flowing over them. Which is your organization? The fresh, cool, free running stream or the dank, scummy pond? Your leaders must decide where they would rather swim.
Add a Comment
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Comment by EYFD5917 on March 27, 2009 at 9:43am
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The position in itself,i.e.:Lt.,Captain,or Chief carries respect.Once a person has achieved that position,it is up to that person to earn the respect in that position.This should hold true in all aspects/positions in the department,from a Firefighter to the Chief........period.
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Comment by Dennis Steele on March 27, 2009 at 8:57am
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Very good analogy, A good officer will get respect if he or she also gives it. and He or She must take the time to share ideas and knowledge with those they lead.
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Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on March 25, 2009 at 12:40pm
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You give us food for the brain!
Art
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Comment by Jason Hoevelmann on March 25, 2009 at 9:43am
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Chief Reason,
I love hearing from you on these posts, you ad a great deal of "reason" and thoughtfulness to these posts. Thanks for your insight and suggestions. You have a great perspective on many of these topics and it is much appreciated. jason
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First: I think before respect can be extended, a person must have some "self-respect". If they suffer from low self-esteem, they will struggle with respecting others.
When officers especially are in a continuous feeding frenzy on the newer and younger members of their departments and are borderline to "hazing", then I think respect for each other is going to take a hit.
I think the fire service is about the only place where the person defines the rank and the rank defines the person. I don't know how you can separate the two. I don't think it's possible to respect one (rank) and not the other (person). I believe that they are one and the same.
I did a blog on respect back in December. You may find it interesting or not.
You touched on many excellent points and there is good feedback.
Check this out: http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/889755:BlogPost:292...
TCSS.
Art
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Comment by Keggster on March 25, 2009 at 1:58am
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Amen Brother, good food for thought. But I believe it's a two way street up and down the chain as well, from the Chief to the newest FF. It's too bad at times most people don't respect a position because of the person holding it.
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Comment by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on March 24, 2009 at 11:12pm
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Jason, great to see you on FF Nation! Thoughtful post... I particularly like the stream/pond analogy. Ray Gayk, FireRescue's Company Officer Development columnist, wrote about the importance of "passing it on" a couple months ago, and I think it's just so true.
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Comment by Chad Furr on March 24, 2009 at 4:08pm
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You have to earn it in my book. I will respect the "figure" but not the person until earned.
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Well put.
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Comment by Scott on March 24, 2009 at 12:09pm
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A person earns your respect, a rank or office is given/shown respect.
I may not know a Chief from a neighboring dept well enough to respect him as a person, but I give him my respect due to his rank until he shows me otherwise.
The rank holder also need to respect the rank/position they have by acting properly and training to do the best job they can to earn the right to stay in the rank or move up the ladder.
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