3 Different Questions
This week's commentary is by Captain Scott Murray of the Central Coventry Fire
Department, in Rhode Island. Scott is a fire service instructor who has shared his take on my
previous commentary about 3 leadership questions. Scott has taken a similar approach and
very practically brought it to a shift, group or platoon level. Here are Captain Murray's
thoughts and comments.
Pete, I have actually done this same type of questioning but not from a career advancement
but as a company officer.
Who is working with me?
Where are we as a Platoon going? (stagnant, learning new things, falling behind)
What can we do to improve?
Who is working with me?
We all have firefighters who are great. I believe that sincerely. They are great pump
operators, great story tellers, great wall holders, great door openers. But when working in a
small department with very limited resources we don't need those great people working for
us. As a company officer I know we secretly have a mental list of firefighters we want to
come and work on our platoons (or maybe I need professional help get back to me on that
one.... Pete will you ?). As quasi management I also understand the need to separate Great
Firefighters amongst all the platoons so you will never have all the Great ones on your shift
or truck. Armed with this piece of information I know that every shift I have to ask myself
who is working with me today. What skills do they bring to the table and how can I use them
to the best of their abilities. For the greater good of the public and department
Where are we going as a Platoon?
Are we training enough? NO! whose fault is it. MINE! as company officer it is my
responsibility to get my men out training. Sure I have all the excuses: Just ask me and I will
tell you enough to shut you up. Every shift, I mentally audit my men (who switched shifts,
who is on OT etc.). Where are we lacking with this group of guys, what training do I need
and then I perform a department audit in my head of how the other groups are performing
on their shifts. Who is following the rules, who is following state EMS protocols, who is
slipping up a lot. etc. I don't do this for malice, this is the only way to compare (trying the
whole time to be objective) where do we need to improve against the standard. Which is the
my own department. We as a fire service don't go outside and look at other departments and
audit against them we tend set our own standard and usually are not written but just
understood. I am going to challenge myself and the department to look outside and shoot for
higher standards. Please do not misunderstand me. My department as far as I am concerned
is extremely proficient and very professional and I am extremely proud of our chief (oh
shucks did I say that out loud) and our men and to be a part of it. With that said, no one is
perfect and that is what makes a higher standard always workable.
What can we improve?
My motto is always measure twice and cut once. Now that may lead you to the impression I
need to have everything all worked out a week in advance on a fire scene and unable to
make critical decisions. I hope this is not true (if it is please someone tell me). However, lets
be real only about 2 % of my day is actually dealing with emergency issues the other 98% is
spend analyzing the above and figuring out how to improve it. Every officer wants to be the
best. Everyone wants to be that company that when it arrives they need very little direction,
tell the officer what to do and the company will get it done no questions asked. My opinion
every Company Officer should be aspiring to get his company to be that company everyone
likes to see arrive. That is what the other 98% of our time should be spent on. Training and
specialty skills are always a challenge and having the time of day and resources to do them is
never anything less than almost insurmountable. If we truly mean what we say then lets get
out their and solve the problem and get it done.
Just my two cents worth.
Scott
Thanks Scott for you insight on this one and you have provided folks with something to think about. Remember folks, I encourage feedback and others submitting stuff for the site, so if you want to see your stuff printed here, send it in !