How do we do it?

 

I am asking for some feedback from anyone who might read this column, on the subject of training fire officers.

 

In a recent discussion with a close friend of mine and fellow fire service professional we came to the conclusion that some of the current problems facing the fire service today are the lack of "enforcement" of rules regulations and procedures.

 

Now while we are both passionate about the fire service and we love the fire service it has become increasingly clear that in the Northeast there seems to be a lack of decision making, taking a stand, leaders who can really get something done.

 

I have read numerous columns from the esteemed Harry Carter who writes weekly columns at his website (www.harrycarter.com) and in national trade journals about the state of leadership that we are in.

 

My friend and I came to some conclusions...Many times officers are in the same collective bargaining units and therefore become somewhat compromised when they may have to reprimand a "brother member".

 

Another might be that while many members are coming on the job and getting Associate and Bachelor Degrees, they have academic knowledge of management practices and procedures but they really don't tend to apply it. We thought of several personal cases we know where the person has a degree, knows what has to be done, but yet does not do it.

 

We also concluded that there were two other factors if not more that came into play. Being a good officer is hard work and takes a lot of personal discipline and time. In a fire department culture where there are usually 3 or four groups or platoons, one very progressive hard working officer might look at the other three shift officers and say, hey why should I work my tail off, they get the same pay I do and they don't do anything.

 

The last factor is that making hard difficult correct decisions does not make you popular. As human beings we all want to be accepted by our peers and not being liked or having folks not associate with you can be very difficult in a firehouse or fire station setting. An officer that is not popular because of his decisions is usually unprepared for the reactions of coworkers and eventually will just give in and become one of the guys.

 

My answer to this problem is one that I have some basic ideas about, but the root of it all lies in the fact that I do not think we are preparing our first line supervisors to handle the role of "decision maker" very well. When Dr. Carter speaks about Chiefs in these positions, I would like to take it back even further to their first promotion and the fact that their current behavior has evolved from their time as a marginally or ineffective Lt., Captain, Battalion or Division chief.

 

OK so here is the question. Do any of the readers have any ideas for effective role plays or scenario based activities that would help to train and prepare a young fire officer for making unpleasant, difficult decisions without actually having the OJT to go with it. I believe this is more than an assessment center activity and it must be valid and reliable. The answer to the problem should be obvious and the correct decision must have some difficult consequences for the person making it.

 

I need your help. Is any department doing anything like this or having a mentor program or anything for it's first line supervisor's. (Lt. and Captain rank.)