Leadership & Command Web Exclusives

  • How to Instill Some Purpose in Your People

      George Bernard Shaw once said, "Give a man health and a course to steer, and he'll never stop to trouble about whether he's happy or not."

    Article • March 30th, 2011

  • Taken for Granted, Taken Away

    This commentary is about a subject near and dear to my heart. I am referring to the FIRE Act Assistance for Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and its allied fire prevention, SAFER, and the station construction associates. Many among you have come to...

    Article • March 29th, 2011

  • Leadership Under Fire: A New Firehouse.com Column

    This is a new monthly column that will center on fire service leadership and management issues and challenges. Each month the column will use a practical approach to dealing with problems with an emphasis on prevention along with getting the most out...

    Article • March 22nd, 2011

  • After 100 Years: The Lesson to be Learned from Triangle Shirtwaist

    Anniversaries serve several purposes; to remember, to honor, to get a day off, maybe even an excuse to throw a party and fire up the grill, but most of all, it is supposed to give us the opportunity to remember the sacrifices of those who created the...

    Article • March 18th, 2011

  • Incident Command Training Advanced at Firehouse World

    SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- There was a whole lot of learning going on Sunday in preconference training sessions for Firehouse World at the San Diego Convention Center.

    Article • February 28th, 2011

  • Riding the Right-Front Seat — Part 5

      A well-trained truck company can make the incident commander's job easier by identifying problems inside the fire building that might be unknown to command personnel. They are like combat engineers in the military who go in ahead of the main...

    Article • February 26th, 2011

  • Musings of an Anachronism

    It is once again my duty to step forward in my adopted role as Firehouse.com's resident curmudgeon. Although I am no where near as old as the Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes' fame, I am old enough to collect Social Security (although I do not). For that...

    Article • February 24th, 2011

  • A Planned Approach to Firefighter Safety

    The American Fire Service stands firmly with one boot in the 19th century and the other in the 21st century. In terms of firefighter safety, specifically line-of-duty deaths (LODDs), the American Fire Service has done little to impact the yearly rate...

    Article • February 24th, 2011

  • Music: The Background for a Life Well-Lived

    My friends, it is my intention to once again share a bit of wisdom with you. Perhaps it will help you to cope with the problems and challenges of life in this the 21st Century. Heaven knows they are coming at us with an ever-increasing speed and...

    Article • January 26th, 2011

  • The Journey: Problem Solving

    All too often a fire chief finds themselves in the middle of a conflict between firefighters. Career firefighters, as well as volunteers have this problem. It must be human nature. "Why can't we all just get along?"

    Article • January 25th, 2011

  • Rule 13: “Be Nice”

      It is interesting to reflect on the fact that some aspects of the fire and EMS world are constantly becoming more complicated. When I think back to 1971, when I started in our business as a recruit firefighter/EMT, fire station life was fairly...

    Article • January 24th, 2011

  • The Change-Resistance Myth

      Many experts have tried to convince managers and leaders that, generally speaking, people resist change. Countless books have been written directing people in the process of helping others to overcome resistance to change. Change...

    Article • January 24th, 2011

  • Perhaps Sometimes We Should Be Paranoid

     

    Article • January 21st, 2011

  • Why Do We Eat Our Own?

      When I speak of “eating our own,” I refer to some species in the animal kingdom that birth their offspring, then devour them to satisfy their hunger and needs.

    Article • January 21st, 2011

  • Small Things Have a Big Impact

    The headlines in newspapers across America usually have big, bold statements about news-worthy events. These are attention grabbers. They cause you to read further, maybe buy the paper and generate a profit for the company. These bold headlines are...

    Article • January 14th, 2011