The fire service has its share of company and chief officers who are power bosses. You know, the ones who abuse the power of their position. Many of them are those standout leaders known for their tough approach. They often set impossible standards and occasionally get good results.
I’ve worked for and around a few of them in my fire service career, and I’m sure you have too. They were like blowtorches with badges, they were aggressive, and they were legendary across the department for egos and attitudes. They demanded respect because they had a badge. It was really about them, not their people. Yet, many of them were considered successful.
As a new firefighter looking for role models, it would be easy to think their approach worked and to use their example to justify bad, unprofessional behavior. Don’t fall for those bad examples. They may have some short-term successes, but their long-term effects can stifle the department.
Four Ways To Be The Right Example
Leadership affects the mission of the fire department. The equation goes like this: leadership directly affects the fire department’s climate. The quality of the climate has a dramatic effect on the mission to save lives and protect property. Thus, the decision you make about the “right example of leadership” to follow has the potential to have the most impact on your ability to serve.
- Keep an open mind - This is one of the most difficult things to practice. It means that you embrace different possibilities, opportunities, people, views, and suggestions. Be open to new, old, odd, and not-so-obvious insights. Today’s fire service is more diverse than ever. Times are changing and so are the expectations of the personnel and the community. To keep up, leaders must be open to new possibilities and solutions.
- Let your team shine - Nelson Mandela once stated, “Lead from the back – and let others believe they are in front.” True leaders are those who lead by serving others. This means that those you serve grow – they become wiser, more independent, more confident, and more competent. It’s not about you. Put your people first.
- Be nice to everyone - You’re in the people business. Work with your people, not against them. It pays to be kind and establish good relationships with them. Your people will trust you more, which will lead to better interactions and increased productivity.
- Ignite your team for success - Teams don’t grow themselves, you do. Like a gardener, you plant the seeds for their success, cultivate them, and watch them grow. The passion starts with you. If you believe in what you’re doing, that conviction will spread. You can’t ignite passion with a wet match.
As we journey through our fire service career, we all have people we want to emulate. Everyone we work with influences us directly or indirectly. As a future leader, you should be very choosy of your role models, or who you want to mimic. And beware, current leaders, unconsciously your people will mimic you. Be the change you want to see in your people. Be the right leader to mimic.
