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Just elected chief and need some advice
In January I was elected into the office by my peers. There was no secret black chiefs book given to me. But if I was given one, what would it say? I also find it difficult not being able to help on the fireground as much, that really bothers me. Advice?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by turk182 on
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Just wait till the bickering starts when you start running things your way and they don't like it.
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Permalink Reply by Chad Furr on
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my advice is just to remember you were not a chief not to long ago and listen to your ppl. Be the chief you would want to have.
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Permalink Reply by Patrick Pauly on
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The most important thing to remember as chief, make sure everyone goes home safely. Everything else is just not as important. There will be tough times, there will be bickering. But safety is first. Lead by example. Wear your PPE and your people will probably wear theirs. Make your firefighters wear thier seatbelts all the time. Use spotters when backing. Get in shape, eat right, encourage the firefighters to do the same. Try to treat everyone like you want to be treated. Never stop attending training. And remember your family. They need you to come home safely, they need you to spend time with them. Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Acosta on
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Thanks. That's was awesome advice.
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That is one thing I'm really trying to remember.
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Dunbar on
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Always have the safety of your people and your public be your number one priority. Always lead by example, be honest,be sincere, always treat your people with the utmost respect, praise in public, constuctively criticize in private. Train your people, develope them. You are your departments IC now you need to be totally focused so don't worry about not helping out on the fireground. Apply the rules equally to everyone......Good Luck you have one tough job ahead of you!
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Permalink Reply by Norman E. Flanders on
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Hi Chief,
Congratulations on your new appointment. Best of Luck. The following is what I use as a guide and I am sure more can be added. So I left the next chapter blank so others can add to this book.
Stay safe, train often and share knowledge.
Chapter 1 Be the IC/Top Dog
Remember you are the one responsible. Be the IC, it's tough at times but you now have a greater responsibility. In form your membership that you have not changed, that you only have a new title and that you will conduct yourself like you always have. In form them that you are all on the same playing field and you're the manager.
Chapter 2 Allow Others To Do The Job
This is tough when your used to being the one bulling, working, going in the fire, etc. It will take a few calls and you'll start doing the job of IC. It will come as habit just like grabbing that 2.5" line, packing up and heading into the situation. Your officers and firefighters will do the job you did and with a good working relationship and management they will continue to make you and the FD professional.
Chapter3 Ask for help, instruction and guidance
Inform your past Chief and officers that you may be asking them for help to insure a smooth transition. Also inform them you will be asking for instruction and guidance as time goes on. Let them know that their help and input is greatly appreciated. If you do a lot of mutual aid, inform those Chief's you work with that you may being asking them for help, instruction and guidance.
Chapter4 Membership vs Friendship
With your new position comes the job of informing your membership that there is a time to be friends and a time to be the boss. Tell them that they all have a position, and a responsibility to the FD and with that they are all going to be treated equal. You MUST treat everyone the same while at a FD function, incident, meetings, training, etc. YOU are the managing official. There is a time for friends, closeness and doing special things together.......but not while you're the Chief. That comes outside the FD and must remain there. It'll be tough...but you must be tougher. There is no greater way to loose respect than having favorites.
Chapter5 Learning
We can never stop learning and here at FFN we can join groups to share knowledge, ideas and ask for guidance in a discussion or on a blog. Reach out to everything you can involving training, read all the publication you can and learn from the author article, ask other Chiefs when you need another opinion, so on and so on. You be surprised what you can pick here, by reading and taking classes to better inform you and to help make your job better.
Chapter6 Listen
Be a listener. Take in all that is said from your membership, officers and governing body. They can make your job easier or tougher. Inform your membership that you value their input and opinion. Tell them that you are willing to listen as you want to make the FD a better place for all. Stop by and ask FF JIM or SALLY how there days been, how's the family, how's work and is there anything I can do to help you be a better FF. Let them help make you a better leader.
Chapter7 Respect
Treat everybody with the same respect you command and deserve. Respect up the chain and down the chain will make your life easier. Can't add more than that.
Chapter8 Give Thanks
Always give thanks were needed. Nothing will make a fire fighter happier than a pat on the back and a thank you for a job well done. Those eight letters when said will go along way in making you and your membership closer. It shows you care greatly for what those fire fighters have done. Take time to thank your membership even for the little things they do.
Take the time to thank the members family for allowing them to give of their time and for for allowing them to miss a special moment or event when called.
Also thank the outgoing Chief for his hard work and dedication and that you will continue to make the FD a proud and professional place.
Chapter9 {to be continued by other members of FFN}
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Permalink Reply by Jay Nicholson on
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Never try to please everyone. You will just piss everyone off.
Leading by example doesn't mean grabbing a pre-connect and attacking a fire. Your the CHIEF and need to step back and take an incident in if you are going to be an effective IC.
Respect those who have served before you but take your dept forward.
I know of at least 52,342 more. Work on what everyone here has giving you and then once you have mastered them, the great Chief Yoda may impart more wisdom upon you.
Congrats.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Brooks on
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Don't micromanage!
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Get some suggestions from your people on where they would like to see the dept. go and how they would like to get it there. Then incorporate some of those suggestions. The guys like to feel like they are part of the decision making process. Obviously you won't be able to please everyone so I wouldn't even dwell on it. But really, like what has already been said, don't forget where you came from and treat everyone fair. That will get you a long ways. Obviously the guys trust you or you wouldn't be in this position. Just be safe. Congrats on your new position. I just became Capt. in Jan. so I am still learning too.
Good luck and stay safe brother!!!
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First thing I was told. Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on
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Good luck brother!!!
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