Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by FETC on October 15, 2009 at 12:06pm

Piper first off your question posed for this thread entitled "The Bottom Line" can't group Leadership and Management into the same category. They are essentially two different spectrums.

But I understand what you are looking in the last half of your question. I feel after many years of delivering professional development classes, you simply can't state (1) specific "fundamental basis" which affords a firefighter a solid fundamental basis or "foundation" to be a leader.

Simplistic example: You are going to build a brick wall. Bricks are good for building a solid wall but they are only as good as the quality of the mortar in which we mix to sustain the walls integrity... Furthermore you can also break down the quality (characteristics) in which the brick and/or the mortar itself was made before we built the end product.

Full circle; lets say a candidate has great "Values and The Desire to Serve". I will give the brother or sister (two) positive traits, but he or she lacks the work ethic, formal experience and respect due to an outside or pre-existing bias.

He or she can have the biggest and most well intentioned "heart" but will fail miserably without having multiple qualitities, characteristics and traits that make up a great and well rounded leader....

The fire service has firefighters who remain just firefighters until the they retire for a reason.... and there is nothing wrong with that either.

Bill

www.fetcservices.com

Permalink Reply by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 15, 2009 at 12:27pm

Bill,

I agree completely; there's no one characteristic that makes someone a leader. I guess I was asking whether there's something--not a characteristic or a trait, but something broader--that all those characteristics depend on to exist.

But you hit on a key point I hadn't considered--experience. So that begs the question, must someone have experience in order to be a good leader? In a raw sense I would argue no; people caught in tragic events show leadership qualities that don't rely on any experience in that sort of situation. But in the fire service, there's certainly a danger in saying the rookie can lead the crew!

Permalink Reply by FETC on October 15, 2009 at 2:00pm

Dependant upon what you are doing... motivational speakers who are in the business to motivate you "to do or buy" something make valuable connections with whomever they are working with. Without it... without that trust factor the relationship may jeopardize the deal, to say allow you to give them money to invest.

Well experience in the fire service is absolutely required in certain positions of authority, otherwise what would one draw from to make critical life or death decisions?

Now getting back to your management or leadership comment. Does the fire chief need to be a great leader or can he be a great manager and surround himmself with great leaders to lead his department?

In larger cities, the Fire Chief seldom run a fireground operation. Now smaller departments some fire chiefs run all the fires. Dependant upon the organizational structure. Heck I have met fire chief's who have an office in city hall...

But imagine in the trenches...."Hey guys, I really respect each and everyone of you and your personal opinions......ahhh can someone please tell me the lieutenant what we should do here?"

Permalink Reply by Bob Kolva on October 15, 2009 at 8:45pm

SHANNON,
Being a leader has nothing to do with rank or title; it is all about influence and respect. Regardless of your position when you influence those around you in a positve manner you will earn their respect and this is the bottom line.

Bob

Permalink Reply by Billy Schmidt on October 18, 2009 at 11:11am

I like the "brick wall" analogy. Many things are required to build the "strong" leader, and it must be maintained. A building left alone, without maintenance or upgrades, begins to crumble over time.

For me, an important element in those building blocks includes "servanthood." In other words, leading for the people and/or cause first.

As for experience, absolutely! Experience is that glue that bonds everything together. Experience is practice; it helps make better decisions. Without it, it's only theory.

Billy