Leadership & Command Web Exclusives

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  • The Journey: Knowing How to Say 'Thank You'

    Every leader in history did not get there on their own. They all had help along the way. If it was a trusted advisor, a diligent worker or a dedicated staff, they all had some kind of help. What is important is how few leaders recognize the efforts of...

    Article • August 16th, 2010

  • The Empty Room

    One of the great joys of my life revolves around the act and art of communications. Each day, I look forward to reading the newspaper, watching the television news channels, and interacting with my friends and fellow firefighters. Like many among you...

    Article • July 28th, 2010

  • School Days: Your Fire Service Report Card - Part 2

    Welcome back to school from your break. We have to move quickly now because the days fly by as we are completing our fire service education. You were selected to serve your community, passed your probation, and completed your first three years as a...

    Article • July 24th, 2010

  • The Mutual Aid Mooch Revisited: Lawrence, Massachusetts

    As I was reading a recent Firehouse.com piece on the layoffs in Lawrence, MA, my mind began to travel back in time. The mayor and politicians in this old mill community were looking to their neighbors to subsidize the cost of their fire protection...

    Article • July 9th, 2010

  • Why Don't They Listen to Me? Why Indeed

    Let me start off with an observation. You are the fire chief in a small, suburban community. Your fire department has been in business for well over 125 years. The department is a fixture in your area and is well-thought-of by pretty much one and...

    Article • June 23rd, 2010

  • Reigniting Responsibility

    Winston Churchill once said, "The price of greatness is responsibility." Many people gravitate toward leadership or supervisory positions for the "greatness" they think it will offer. Few embrace the true responsibility that comes with that greatness.

    Article • May 27th, 2010

  • Rule 9: Be the Customer Service Advocate

    No set of rules could be complete without discussing the need for and the application of customer service. It is amazing how times have changed and along with that so must our focus. When I first started in the department in late 1971, the...

    Article • May 27th, 2010

  • The Journey: It's a Matter of Trust

    This article continues our discussion on the journey to fire service leadership. As I said in the first article, it is the journey to leadership that builds our character. Our character is shaped along the way by all the twists and turns on the path...

    Article • May 24th, 2010

  • The Power of One

    It has long been my contention that a single person can have an impact upon the affairs of the world. Maybe that person will become a force for good or maybe they will become a force for evil, one cannot always tell. However, history has shown that...

    Article • May 20th, 2010

  • Making the Most of the Three Person Company - Part 1
    Making the Most of the Three Person Company - Part 1

    Staffing in the fire service has dwindled because of numerous reasons over the past few decades. An engine or ladder company arriving with half a dozen personnel was once the norm; it is now a rarity. Both in the career fire service as well as the...

    Article • May 13th, 2010

  • Protecting Your Organization's Funds from Theft

    Pick up any newspaper today and you can't miss stories about the current economic difficulties facing everyone. These articles, many packed with doom and gloom, may be found on the front pages. But keep reading and chances are somewhere on page six or...

    Article • May 5th, 2010

  • Real Leaders Don't Accept Change: They Initiate It!

    The old leadership philosophy was that if you wanted to be a great leader, you had to accept change. The new leadership philosophy is that great leaders don't accept change — they initiate it!Let me clarify: Great leaders don't initiate change for...

    Article • May 5th, 2010

  • Intelligent Communication

    Have you been the victim of modern communication? Our culture can move information at the speed of light, but do we always receive the message correctly or do we spin it the way we want it to be? We must weigh the words we are reading or hearing. We...

    Article • May 5th, 2010

  • Blessed are the Ignorant

    You may well be wondering where I am headed with this piece of commentary. I have been meandering a bit to this point. Let me suggest that I am starting on a journey of knowledge and enlightenment. However, I believe that, in this instance, I find...

    Article • April 19th, 2010

  • The Journey: Mistakes and Decisions

    There is an expression that teachers use with their grade school children:"Mistakes are good, they help us grow, they teach us what we need to know." That expression may be good for grade school, but in the fire service mistakes can be deadly. It does...

    Article • April 10th, 2010

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