Last week I posed the following question to the group. Below I have listed some of the responses I received with names ommitted.

Are today's Fire Service Leaders (Chiefs and such) doing a good job in general?

If they are just say why briefly. If they are not also give me just a brief idea from your perspective what you think is wrong.

The Responses...

Most I have seen are doing a poor job. In my experience the chief's position is the end of a career and they really have no plan as to what to do when they get there. They have no vision or plan and if they do they poorly communicate this to their memebers. If the Chief does have a plan he surely doesn't let anyone know. Few delegate anything acting as if they do it will diminish their position somehow.

Thats why we have no Brunacini's around here.

No famous progressive Chiefs here.

I'd have to give them a C+ for leadership. To many new officers are getting promoted with just a test score. You cannot have ANY faith in a leader who is only in it for the benefits. A leader should be able to realize that with a bugle does not mean you are the authority on everything. Many forget where they came from.

It's the world we live in. Parents want to be pals not disciplinarians. No one wants to be the bad guy. Kinder gentleler don't work. Set the limits and stick to them. No matter how much it sucks or you look like you're being your mother.

We have both good and bad. The best leaders establish a standard and follow it. This provides consistency for the troops and gives a clear model to follow.
The weaknesses can be seen in leaders who act like friends and hesitate to take controversial positions. The addage of "lead, follow, or get out of the way" is particularly true in the Fire Service.
A group of aggressive, motivated members (ie: firefighters) need strong leadership to focus and rally them. The TEAM should be infinitely more effective than the individuals alone. However, unless you train this way do not expect it at fires or in the station.
I have not been to a Fire Dept in 10 years that did not, for the most part, consist of good people who want to be the best. However, if no one establishes a path we will each go our own way and we will not get anywhere.

I think the leaders of today want to do a better job.The problem as I see it is the politicians have their own opinions on what the Fire Service should and should not be.This in turn redirects or in some cases derails the leaders main objective of providing a comunity with a first class dept.We in the fire service must take some responsability in doing a better job of educating the voters and public so they in turn will suport the Fire service for what it should be and not what some misinformed politician thinks it should be.It is a sad day when one realizes a depts. list of priorities calls for revenue stream $$$$$$$$$, prevention, life & property in that order which of course nobody will ever admit, but as mom taught me actions speak far louder than words.

I think in general that the majority of fire service leaders are doing a good job.

However, I do not believe that the fire service in general is doing a good enough job educating up and coming officers to take on leadership roles. It is a gap that needs to be filled with more education and training.

I feel that we are promoting people into leadership roles and not getting their full potential out of them once they achieve rank.

I am not sure where the system is broke, but maybe some mentoring along the way for aspiring officers would help them appreciate the true amount of responsibility that goes along with being a leader.