Influencing Organizational Culture

The fire service is loaded with leaders up and down the chain of command and many great leaders are those working on the front lines of the job each day. The senior firefighter, the driver, any one of them has the potential to be a leader but most importantly an impactful leader. Oftentimes, it's easy to mistake rank for leadership and as we know it is not mutually exclusive.

Real, true leaders do not demand orders or push rank but rather motivate and train those around them. In essence, leaders influence organizational culture to excel each member and the department for future success on and off the fire ground.

How does this happen? How does one influence organizational culture?

1. They observe. The old phrase of "listen more and talk less" is one of their best qualities. A hallmark of a true leader. Leaders learn more than just what needs to happen with the fine details of the job but how to influence and encourage their fellow firefighters behavior for success, boost morale and finds way to improve many processes of the company.

2. They take advantage of subcultures within the house. There will be cliques wherever you go and even in a firehouse. Yet exceptional leaders know how to utilize this area for team building. When firefighters train together, a bond is being built and leaders know when and how to build a very important bond in this job.

3. Cross-Train. Every firefighter has their own set of skills they are inherently good at and others that need work. Leaders will cross-train themselves with other firefighters to learn more about their roles and in turn learn more about them. The more we utilize other firefighters skill sets to the advantage of the department, the more successful the department it.

4. Take Ownership. The fire service is built on life lessons and many of these lessons will quickly humble even the most seasoned firefighter. Many departments have an accountability officer and an accountability system built into their SOPs to keep order and accountability of all firefighters working on an incident. Great leaders will take that system a step further and transition it into everything they do and those they work with do by holding each other to a standard of ownership for their mistakes and for their successes. Again, the fire service is a humbling place.

5. Humans. Leaders treat and speak to everyone with respect regardless of their emotions or how they feel about another individual. Showing respect to your fellow firefighter of any rank is a great example of influencing organizational culture in the department. No firefighter is greater than the crew or department.

Here are five ways we could influence organizational culture into the firehouse without overbearing the members of the house. Use these takeaways to subtly adapt the firehouse or crew to a culture of success all around.

Until next time, work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

Firehouse Pride is More Than a Phrase. It’s a Way of Life.

According to Websters Dictionary, pride is defined as “the quality or state of being proud”. This term pride has been thrown around a lot in the fire service and in firehouses and for good reasons.

Since I joined the fire service many years ago, it was ingrained in me to mop the floors when dirty, take out the trash when the can was full and ensure the kitchen, living quarters and bathrooms were spotless.

We make sure our apparatus, our PPE and tools are kept in working order so when the bell rings, we’re ready to go. We train as hard and as often as we can, so when we arrive on scene we can perform like championship athletes ready to go on the big stage under the lights. When we meet the public, we make sure our uniforms are squared away and we look like a unified well oiled machine in hopes of making an impression on the children who want to emulate us one day.

Why do we do all of this? I’ll tell you. For the love of the job. For those we answer the call with each and every day. For these men and women are no longer strangers from all walks of life but forever family. For the service to the residents of the community. For those who laid the ground work before us to make this firehouse more than a house because in the end, this place isn’t a house it’s a home. In the end, this is pride. This is firehouse pride.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

Do We Just Say the Words or Do We Live By Them?

The fire service means a lot of different things to different people. There are the “adrenaline junkies,” who love to hear the bells hit, the sirens scream and the lights start flashing. There are the “probies,” new to the job or department, who are excited to be a part of the fire service, but as of yet, do not have a great deal of knowledge. Then there are  those with their five-to-ten-year-careers, who are used to the calls and the firehouse routines. And finally, there are the veterans, with anywhere from ten-to-thirty years of service. Yet no matter which of these levels you find  yourself, there is one word that is used around the firehouse, probably only second to, “food,” and that word is “family.”

No matter the type of department you belong to, career, volunteer, part-pay or WUI, no doubt that you have not only heard the word, “family” used many times in the firehouse, but you have used it yourself. In some ways, the word holds true; some of us spend almost every shift as 24-on/48-off. Others spend a volunteer shift a couple of times a week. And some, camp in the wilderness, just to grab a bite to eat and a couple of hours of sleep, before fighting the wildland “red devil” early the next morning…again. 

All of this makes for a great amount of time being spent together. We train, we learn, we eat, relax, and often sleep (or try to) together. Almost sounds like a real family. And of course, related words often used are “brother” and “sister.” Moreover, we refer to other firefighters, even those we have never met, as “family.” 

The question is, in our hearts, on an everyday basis, do we see our own fellow firefighters, truly as family or only when we believe they have risen to an artificial level that we have pre-set within our own judgmental minds? There is an old idiom in the fire service; the two things that firefighters detest most are change and status quo. Thus, a new probie, a rookie, a new volunteer or a WUI, often are forced to prove him/herself, before be accepted by the existing members. Yet did not each and every one of us, take almost the same oath, “To protect lives and property?”

Nevertheless, many of these fresh, new members and even temporary transfers are welcomed to the station or crew as “ghosts;” treated either as non-existent or as outsiders until they prove themselves. And ask yourself this, “Who do they have to prove themselves to?” You? Because you have eighteen months on the job? Or you, because you do not believe that a women is capable of being a terrific firefighter? Or you, because you are the senior member of the “house” and every rookie must “prove” themselves to you?

Let us re-visit the word, family. If you have an older sibling, did your parents ask that sibling if he/she would “allow” them to bring another child into the family? If you are an older sibling, did your parents ask your permission to have another child? Get my point?

While we will all agree that every able-bodied, man or woman will need to learn a great deal, above and beyond what was learned in rookie school, in his/her newly assigned station, department, etc., I posit that this additional knowledge should have nothing to do with whether they are considered family or not. If they took the oath and received their badge, they are indeed, family. 

Unfortunately, far too many firefighters, of every rank, all too often want to test the rookies, not about true fire duties, responsibilities and/or tactics, but by denigrating them, forcing them to perform all the menial tasks of a firehouse, over and over again; perhaps to the point where he/she might resign. And when they do, those in that firehouse continue to besmirch them, with negative comments, e.g., “He couldn’t even wash the floor,” “She always complained when we made her do ‘toilet duty,” etc. 

Is this how we treat “family.” When your uncle from Europe, whom you have only heard about and never met, finally comes to the U.S. to visit, will you treat him like the stranger and foreigner he is to you? Or will you welcome him and sit with him to learn about his life in his country? Or will you order him to clean the 2-1/2 bathrooms in your home and take out all the garbage and recycling, twice a week?

When I used to travel overnight for my former profession, I would always find some time to make my way and visit a local firehouse. I would knock on the door, ring the bell, or walk up to an open bay door. I would show them my ID and badge. And from that moment on, in over fifty visits, I was always treated a “brother” firefighter. Often times, I would even be able to run a call with them. However, while I would always offer to buy-in to a firehouse meal, I was never required to clean the bays, toilets, kitchen, etc., to “qualify” as a member of the fire service family. Moreover, I would always volunteer to help with meals, even offered and cooked a few, help clean-up after the meal, even helped clean a rig that returned after a call. 

Why? For me, the answer was simple. Before I joined my first combo department as a volunteer, I was a young man from suburban Boston, who lived a comfortable middle-class life and had worked, one way or another, since age twelve. I had not even planned on being a firefighter. 

In this combo department, I was welcomed with open arms. A bit strange back then (in the mid-1970’s), as, a young eighteen-year-old man I met the night of our vote, (and who is still my best friend today) were the first two people of the Jewish faith to ever apply for membership. And for some of the members, we were the first Jewish people that had ever met! Nevertheless, we were welcomed warmly, accepted by all, and immediately included in all of the station life. I did not have to prove myself for other firefighters to shake my hand. Many that night, asked if I had experience and offered assistance any time I wanted to learn something. 

Sure, I attended as many drills as my full-time job allowed and, if I did miss a drill, I would always pair up with whoever the caretaker was on the following Saturday or Sunday and learn what I missed. There was one of the caretakers, who wanted to mentor my new friend and I and told us so. He saw our eagerness to learn and he wanted to be sure we learned correctly, so that we would be an asset to any crew on an apparatus, responding to a call. 

More than a mentor, the three of us soon became fast friends, as did our families. As a matter of fact, it truly was the fire department’s Women’s Auxiliary that truly brought the word, “family” to have strong meaning in our department. Frequently, family celebrations were held at the firehouse and every paid and volunteer family was invited. 

Nice scene, correct? Now ask yourself, do you have that same family atmosphere with your crew, station and/or department? Does your department have this “atmosphere?” Does a new arrival receive a warm greeting from all on his/her first day? Or do you maintain a fraternity/sorority mindset that the “newbie” has to prove his/her worth?

And this has nothing to do with training new recruits. Every firefighter-recruit must go through proper and ongoing training, as should every firefighter! However, training should have no bearing on how the new recruit or even a transfer firefighter is treated. 

Today, in 2021, we are all too aware of the told that the stress, the trauma, the tragedies we have seen, all take a toll on our behavioral health, whether you are willing to admit or not! For most fire-rescue personnel, you cannot and probably will not go through your career without being exposed to some of the worst of life, trauma, tragedy, death, dismemberment, etc. Yet, many firefighters believe they are obligated to stifle those emotions. Now, years later, we see both the physical and mental toll of trying to hide the horror.

Juxtapose that with our treatment of our fellow firefighters, be they rookies, or those with less than five or so years under their belts. Would you condone the abuse of probies, just because they are new to the culture, as you would condone the abuse of your child attending a new school for the first day? And please, do not insult me or yourself by justifying such abuse as, “…just kidding around!”

If a firefighter who lives three-thousand miles away from you, needs financial assistance, how would you know about it? And if you did, what would you do about it? On the other hand, if one of your own brothers or sisters, who lived those same three thousand miles away, needed help, what would you do? 

If your answer is, “Well, he’s my real brother and he needs my help!” then you really do not understand or cannot comprehend what this word, “family” means to the fire service. Why was the term even used in the fire service?

In its earliest days, from the bucket-brigades to Ben Franklin’s first volunteer fire department and beyond, the word “family” was used because sons often followed their fathers’ examples. If the father was on the bucket brigade or a volunteer firefighter, the oldest son did the same, when he came of age. And the next one and one after that. Thus, that group or department had a true family tradition connected to it. As we progressed into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and the number of both volunteer and career departments grew, we saw similar traditions. Multiple members of the same family, working for or with the same department as other family members, brought out the concept of the firefighting family. And while we can probably be assured that there was often, good-hearted joking around, the sense of family was never lost. 

What about today? Who are you? How do you welcome and approach new recruits? How do you interact with them? Are we so overconfident that we truly believe we have a “right” to cajole, tease and punish a new recruit? “They deserve it,” I have seen on a social media post. 

If we are going to use the word “family” for those who willingly face the dangers and scenes that we would not want anyone else to see, then we damn well better live a “family” life, both inside and outside the fire service.

About the Author

Steven S. Greene, is a former volunteer firefighter/EMT, having served four years in Guilford County NC and four year in Onondaga County NY, before a previous injury ended his career. 

In 2016, Steve created the podcast, “5-Alarm Task Force.” With listeners in nearly 40 countries, his guest list includes the late Chief Alan Brunacini, Chief Dennis Rubin, Chief Bobby Halton, Chief Tim Sendelbach, Peter Matthews, Commissioner Adam Thiel, and many others. The podcast/webcast is now in its sixth season.

Building TRUST

When it’s time to get to work, it is imperative we can trust the crews inside to do their job and to make smart logical situational base thinking. We can begin this process through training with each other all the while learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Far too often firefighters tend to freelance or lose sight of their responsibilities due to their unwillingness to work with fellow firefighters. One reason for this is a lack of trust in their fellow firefighters but ultimately a lack of trust in themselves. Here are a few ways we can built that TRUST in our crews.

1. The kitchen table sets the tone. Nothing builds camaraderie and getting to know each other than sitting around a table breaking bread. Understanding each other as individuals helps set the tone for understanding each other as fellow firefighters on a crew.

2. Train WITH each other not AT each other. No matter the rank, experience level or responsibility, training with each other to learn your role and your fellow firefighters roles helps build strength and trust in each other which overtime develops trust and understanding. For days of short staffing, knowing and understanding others roles will play huge dividends in their absence.

3. Share experiences but listen to each other’s experiences. It’s wonderful to share experiences but it’s another thing to listen to others experiences. By sharing and listening to each other, it helps build a common ground with the crew. As time goes, these experiences will develop into training scenarios and give each other a chance to show leadership and also demonstrate strengths and weaknesses.

4. Treat each as equals. No one and absolutely no one is bigger or better than the crew and it’s integrity. Remember to always treat each other with respect as firefighters, individuals and that their role on the fire ground absolutely matters.

In the end nothing can replace trust if trust is broken. Trust is easy to break and very hard to put back together. Trust in yourself and trust in your crew leads to success. If nothing else, remember this one thing - fight and argue but when shit gets real they will be with you in the fight.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

Morale in the Volunteer Fire Service

If you're an officer of a volunteer fire department, you've most likely read articles and sat in lectures about gaining membership. It's a topic that a lot of volunteer firehouses deal with. Let's fast forward to the part where they already joined; how do you keep them not only active but interested.   

I'm an officer of a volunteer department about an hour north of New York City. We're lucky enough to have a good number of members who are dedicated to the fire service and enjoy doing it. None of this came without hard work. A department that's constantly running fires, pin jobs, and rescue calls may have a good chance at keeping members interested. However, that's not the case with us. We are one of the county's busier departments; our district covers everything from rural areas, apartment complexes, strip malls, a state highway, and even a large industrial complex. Sounds like a recipe for a lot of work. For the most part, the potential is all there, but it's usually filled with fire alarms, minor motor vehicle accidents, and food on the stove. Now you never want to see someone or their property in danger; this makes it tough to keep members interested. 

Training is an excellent way to keep members involved. The volunteer service has members with zero experience to members with forty plus years; you have to accommodate both. Doing drills that strictly focus on basic skills is great for new members but becomes repetitive for those with more experience. A "new members academy" is a great way to retain younger members. In my department, we just started an "academy" consisting of 8 nights with a basic topic set for each. Although the course is technically opened to anyone in the department, it is designed for newer members who want to learn the basics among similar skill levels. Newer members tend to do better in their own environment where they don't feel embarrassed by asking questions in front of senior firefighters. 

Cant do something for the newer firefighters and not for the more experienced, right? There are plenty of companies or instructors willing to come in and teach more advanced skill level classes. I understand some departments may not be able to budget training like that. Use your resources around you to reach out and see what they can offer. Many times, businesses are willing to allow you to walk through the building or even have an employee touch on special circumstances that firefighters must follow. Nothing like that? Utilize your officers, have an extrication drill but add some spice to it. Instead of a basic extrication, maybe set up an imaginary scenario where the vehicle is down an embankment with entrapment. Instead of basic ground ladders, maybe work on victim removal from a ground ladder. You can perform countless more advanced scenarios at your own firehouse; you must utilize resources and think of what can happen in your district. 

Do you want to keep members of all age levels involved? Build em' up! Firefighting is a team sport, and encouragement goes a long way. No one in the firehouse should be tearing anyone down. Encourage your members to train, encourage them on the fire scene, and make sure you let them know when they do a good job. No one wants to go to a place where they're not feeling appreciated, especially if they're not getting a paycheck. Do projects around the firehouse; it's everyone's home, and they should be able to feel apart of it. My firehouse lacked a ready room; members of all ages got together and updated an old gear room into a ready room. There was a sense of pride among the membership, and gave us all a reason to work together and boost morale. 

Now I'm sure most volunteer departments use these ideas already. I'm not an expert on morale, and this wasn't written to boost my own department; it's just information I'd thought I'd share with officers who may be looking to keep morale up or try to boost it. The fire service is all about sharing information, and I'm always looking to discuss new ways to improve the service; you can find me on Twitter @MarchianoTom feel free to drop me a message!

Probationary Firefighters, Are We Failing Them?

Whether you're in a career or volunteer fire department, the discussion of our probationary members not being good enough is always a topic. The blame is still on them, but are we the ones who are failing?  

I grew up in a community about an hour north of New York City. Ever since I was a kid I've had a fascination with the fire department, I remember the FD coming to school for fire prevention, and it was the highlight of my school year. Naturally, when I turned 16 in 2004, I joined the department. My first day in as they're setting me up with PPE and introducing themselves to me, I immediately noticed a particular lifestyle among the members.  

Within that lifestyle was mutual respect. As the new guy, my role was keeping my apparatus clean, learning the tools and equipment, listening, and, most importantly, keeping my mouth shut. Honestly wasn't too much different than my home life. Keep the room clean, do my homework, and respect my elders. I noticed the more I followed these simple rules; I gained the respect of my fellow firefighters. I believe it as much now as I did then, respect is earned not given. As I progressed and continued training and taking state fire courses, I moved up the ranks from Lieutenant to Captain and now to my position as the 2nd Assistant Chief. 

 As I moved up, we took in a countless number of new members. Some stuck with it, some it didn't work out for, some of them currently serve under me as Captain or Lieutenants themselves. The one thing I've noticed among the years was the ambition and respect level has changed. Some members seemed excited to be a firefighter. However, once asked to clean or take the garbage out or even learn the truck's equipment, it became more like a chore. They would go home and never step foot in the firehouse again. The firehouse was becoming more of a haven or a clubhouse for them to hang out and not have to listen to parents at home. 

 For years I had the same attitude as many do now; if these younger members can't adapt to our lifestyle and traditions, they're useless to us. During my time as captain, a newer member asked if I could come down and go over the apparatus and equipment with him. He commented that he enjoys learning, and wishes more people hung around to help. At this moment, I thought to myself; maybe we are failing the youth of the fire service. Everything is completely different for young adults nowadays. 

Not to offend anyone, but take a look at the lifestyle of today's youth. Children are rewarded for everything they do. Trophies for finishing 6th place? Disrespect a teacher at school, and the teacher can't discipline you. Your parents can barely discipline you without someone involving child protective services. Fire Departments run on military time, and the schools in my area don't even teach students how to read a quartz clock anymore. We show up to fire prevention day or a career day, and we preach to these young adults that firefighting is excellent. They come to the firehouse. They check everything out; they join, and then we immediately throw them into "our lifestyle" without even knowing them. 

We expect them to take out the trash and clean, chores they barely do at home thanks to robot vacuums and a sense of entitlement. We hope they stop watching TV in the ready room and learn the apparatus. We expect them to respect us as senior members or officers, but we don't include them in conversations. I guess my point, in the end, is, maybe we as officers and senior members are the issue. If we take more time to get to know them, show them what a rookie firefighter is all about, by cleaning with them, going over equipment with them, and all in all, just being around for them more, maybe, they'll adapt to the lifestyle that we created as firefighters. Perhaps if we stop to think of them and how the world has changed, and they're not living in the same era as we once did, then we can adapt together.

The late Chief Alan Brunacini said, 'If you want to make changes in the workers' behavior, change the behavior of the boss.' It's a great saying in any line of work. So, think about what if we can get both sides to adapt and coexist; maybe we can create a better firefighter lifestyle for the future fire service.

You Have Just One Job

 "This shouldn't take too long." I'm not talking to anyone;that's just the thought in my head as I get ready to clean the bathroom today. On the first floor of my house there is a half bath that is just after the front door, on the right side. It's just close enough to the door that if you pull in to the parking space, Dukes of Hazzard style, and busted through the front door to use the bathroom, you can make it without an 'accident' happening. The bathroom needs cleaning. I go to work using an assortment of cleaners; being careful not to cause a hazardous environment needing 911. Now, it's time to mop. That is also the time things go in a new direction. I go to the hallway closet a few feet away on the other side of the hallway. I see a mop handle sticking up, but there is all this stuff in the way. I start cleaning the closet to get to the mop to clean the bathroom. I now have two bags of things to throw out, brooms and other floor cleaning devices neatly arranged, but no mop. A wide area search (of a townhouse, mind you) leads to finding the mop in another bathroom upstairs. To recap, I have cleaned the closet, to find and clean the mop, so I can finish cleaning the bathroom. But while cleaning the mop, I notice there may be a leak coming from the sink I used. So, after cleaning the closet to get the mop, I found and cleaned the mop, then found the leak, then cleaned up the water from the leak to clean the, uh…what was I supposed to be doing again?

At that moment, I see myself in a place I have been before. Perhaps you have found yourself in that same place. I have one thing on my mind to do. In the process of working on that one thing, I accomplish 3 or 4 other things. Never what I set out to do in the first place. Once I realize the situation I am in, it was easy to tell I didn’t use my focus habit.What habit do I use to keep my focus? The yellow sticky note habit.

People who have worked with me have seen and made fun of my yellow sticky note habit. I admit, it's definitely a little odd. I can't remember how I got started using it, but I've done if for a while. I take two 3-inch yellow sticky notes and stick them together back to back so the sticky parts are at opposite ends. Now I have a 3-inch paper that I can write on both sides. On only one side of the note, I write the date and everything I want to try accomplish that day. The rest of the day, the list resides in my pocket. Periodically for the rest of the day, I look at my list and see what I have done, and what I still need to do. Whatever I don't finish, goes on the list for the next day.

Time has taught me that the size of that paper doesn't allow me to put more on it than I can finish in one day. I stay focused, keep track of my progress, and I can evaluate if what I'm doing is more important that what is on my list. I use this at the station, at the office, and sometimes at home. I get laughs about my list at the station, at the office, and sometimes at home. I find that I am more efficient and productive at the station, at the office, and sometimes, at home.

My habit for staying focused may not be for you. It doesn't have to be. We all, however, need some way to keep focused on our intended tasks. Completing tasks, completes objectives. Completing objectives, completes goals. And completing goals is how ordinary people have extraordinary impact.

 About the Author

 NICK BASKERVILLE Nick has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 18 years of fire service time, with 15 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had

the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and as one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance. Nick is one of the many trainers for Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) to offer awareness and prevention training about cancer in the fire service. Nick has the honor of being one of the many contributors for The Firehouse Tribune.

Nick is also a member of the public speaking organization Toastmasters. He holds an Advanced
Competent Bronze (ACB) certification. He also tells personal narrative stories that have been featured
on shows for The Moth, Better Said Than Done, and Storyfest Short Slam. Follow more about storytelling
and public speaking for purpose at Story Telling On Purpose (www.stop365.wordpress.com)

Discipline

We have all heard the word Discipline in many different ways through the course of our lives and careers. For those who listen to the Jocko Podcast know the worddiscipline to be used to explain freedom. As Jocko says, “Discipline Equals Freedom”. So what does discipline mean for us in the fire service?

Discipline can mean a lot ofdifferent things. It could mean an act to obey an order or a prescribed conduct/behavior. For me as a firefighter, discipline is doing the right thing even when it isn’t noticed by others and it also means always doing your job.

A disciplined firefighter is one that will take pride in his or her job at all times. This person will ensure they are alwaysmentally and physically ready for. They will make sure their uniform and gear is clean and ready to be worn when called upon. A disciplined firefighter will continually take pride in their job by washing the trucks and cleaning the station when needed. They will also tend to all the tools and equipment, ensuring they are clean, fueled, and 100% ready to go.

A disciplined firefighter will consistentlykeep training in many different ways. They will read books, articles, and do research on new tools, techniques, and advancements. They will also keep training their bodies physically to be fit for duty. They will make sure to set aside time for working out and eating right. For most, this will become a way of life and hopefully not just for them, but for their entire crew and family as well.

Perhaps most importantly a disciplined firefighter will share their knowledge and experiences with the younger members to instill a sense of pride and discipline into the new generation of emergency responders. This is critical because the younger generations look up to those of us who have been around for a long time. They tend to model their behavior and tendencies to that of the more experienced crew members. If we are sloppy, careless, and not disciplined they will also be. On the flip side, if we are squared away and disciplined they will be too.

When the bell goes off, everyone needs to know what is being asked of them and what their job is. When working on the fire ground everyone needs to work together to achieve the common goal of solving the problem presented. Being a disciplined firefighter will allow you to do your job efficiently so that everyone goes home.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

 About the Author

 NICHOLAS J. HIGGINSis a firefighter with 16 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ as well as NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor and currently a State of New Jersey Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation. A martial arts practitioner in Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai as well as a former collegiate athlete in baseball, Nick is also a National Exercise & Sports Trainer Association Battle Ropes Instructor, Nutrition Coach and studying for the Functional Fitness Instructor certification.  He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

What’s Black, White, Yellow and Red All Over?

Honestly, it is a pretty awesome flag. The Maryland state flag. It is a rectangle piece of cloth with the colors black, white, yellow, and red. I am accustomed to seeing flags with different shapes and colors. My time in the military has made travel around the world possible. It’s probably because I have been bombarded with so many flags, I typically don’t give them a lot of thought. Ironically, I didn’t come to realize the greatness of the Maryland flag by living in Maryland. I realized it by working in Virginia.More than a few times someone would ask, "Why do you Marylanders love that flag so much?" Another Maryland native would typically answer, "Because it awesome!"Honestly, he’s not wrong.

The Maryland flag is on every possible thing possible. EVERY. THING. Look for a Virginia flag helmet sticker. Can’t find it. A Maryland one? Twenty versions. The flag is on beach towels and coffee cups. It was on a plane from Southwest. A Plane! Although I don't completely identify with loving the Maryland flag, I get it. It's what it symbolizes. When a true Maryland native looks at the flag, he or she can smell the old Bay food seasoning. Taste the blue crabs. The roarof the cheering crowd at the University of Maryland games is deafening. Seeing the flag can take you to a great place for a person from the state of Maryland.

Everyone who encounters the Maryland flag can be broken up into three groups: 1) Diehards who value the flag highly, 2) People who don't fully get it, but think it pretty cool and 3) those who simply see it as a piece of cloth with colors. One symbol, three different views. All three views can be debated. As usual, none actually wins. Your interpretation of an object can be as different as the people who see it. So, what's the truth?

Unless you live under a rock, you know the US is having some major debates about flags. From the confederate flag to the American flag. There is nothing in this post that will ‘win’ the debate for one side or the other. Yet, in the workplace, in the fire service, or where ever one encounters groups of people will need get work together despite the version truth they see.

Pastor John Gray did a talk for Soul Sessions where he talked about “The Bridge”. A place where two people can meet even though they don’t agree with one another. “The Bridge”, is a safe place for thorny conversations to happen without major conflict. As a leader, or aspiring leader, are you creating bridges? If you have not experienced the following know that it is coming: people on your team will disagree viscerally about a topic, yet still need to work together. Using what I have seen on the smaller, more lighthearted matter of the Maryland flag, try getting your team, crew, office to go AOR:

• Accepting someone else’sbeliefs

o Accepting is not agreeing. It is just noting that another point of view exists. “Yes, I see that the Maryland flag means a lot for you. I don’t get it. But I value your point of view.”

• Open, but not rude about your belief

o I sometimes hear people say “I’m not trying to be rude, but…” Most times, people are looking for a way to not use tact when stating a point. This normally leads to bigger conflict. Instead, start off with “My perspective” or “My belief”. You are not judging some else’s thoughts, just stating your own

• Remembering what you came to do

o A contingent of people from my Virginia Fire Dept went to Ellicott City, MD to help with the flooding situation. I’m not there, but I’m willing to bet no one is judging the Maryland flag. No one is judging ANY flag. People are there to help the mission: get people out of harm’s way.Do you know your organization’s mission? Vision? Values? Successful groups should have individuals with some of these things in common. As a leader, you will need to remind peoplewhat is common among them. Get people to focus on the common mission, vision, and values instead of the different flags.

Flags are important symbols for people. They embody a great number of values. Evoke a great number of emotions. All of which can vary from person to person. As a leader, you will be tasked with taking people and uniting them not under one flag, but under one mission. Different people. Ordinary people…who will have an extraordinary impact.

About the Author  

 NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 18 years of fire service time, with 15 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and as one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance. Nick is one of the many trainers for Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) to offer awareness and prevention training about cancer in the fire service. Nick has the honor of being one of the many contributors for The Firehouse Tribune.

Nick is also a member of the public speaking organization Toastmasters. He holds an Advanced Competent Bronze (ACB) certification. He also tells personal narrative stories that have been featured on shows for The Moth, Better Said Than Done, and Storyfest Short Slam. Follow more about storytelling and public speaking for purpose at Story Telling On Purpose (www.stop365.wordpress.com)

When It Rains...

It's just another day at work. More things to do than time in the day. I'm at the fire station, making my way up the stairs to fit in what I can. Up the stairs, I make my way down the walk way and take the second left. I open the office door just to drop off my coffee cup. Training is about to happen and I don’t want to be late. I don’t turn on the light, at first. But what is that sound? It reminds me of running water? That doesn’t make sense. There is no water in the office.

I turn on the light and oh my, what a sight!One of the ceiling tiles looks more like a cloud instead of a part of the ceiling. It was full of water and beginning to rain down on the entire office. The air condition system is located in the ceiling, just above the office. I have heard stories of how it leaked before. I now have my own story.

As a new officer, I'm still working through the gut reaction to be in the thick of the problem. To get directly involved on fixing the problem hands-on. On this day, however, I activate a skill that have cultivated for years.A skill perfect for this situation. That skill?Ignorance.I understand what to do with a busted hose line. I understand what to do for a spill for muriatic acid. I know nothing about what to do for a leaky ceiling. I knew enough to know, however, that there was a problem. Even officers know water is not supposed to come from the ceiling. Sizing up the situation, I knew I need more resources. Downstairsare 2-3 firefighters who would know exactly what to do. I went downstairs and hustled back with a strike team of people to handle with the problem.

What did I do? I took two steps back and supported the plumbing strike team while they worked. I handed them a wrench when asked. I held the ladder when needed. I called the maintenance person for the long-term fix. As things are windingdown, the Battalion Chief stopped by. Chief’s seem to either have a 6th sense or hidden camera that tell them when to stop by the station."Where's the guy in charge?"All fingers point to me in the corner coordinating with the HAVAC vendor on when they can fix the problem.

Sometimes being in charge means letting the right people use their skill. Especially when you don't have that skill. I have learned something long ago that I have just managed to put into words. I don't have to be the smartest person in the room in order to lead the room. Let the ordinary people have the extraordinary impact.

 About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance. 

The Unexpected Church Lesson

My kid, Baby Girl, is a church baby. If you're not familiar with what that is, allow me to explain. A church baby is a kid that,from birth, has been raised and mentored in all things church. And I mean ALL things. He or she in the church children's choir, even if the "gift" of singing isn't theirs. He or she is apart of the children's ministry, even though they never ask to be. He or she is expected to go to children's bible study to learn all the rules that grown folk break. He or she gets dressed in the latest clothes for the latest church holiday. The duty of church baby lastsfar longer than being an infant.Baby Girl is 6 but will always be a part of the church baby alumni.

Church babies do get a stipend. This is normally paid out in candy and one-dollar bills. More so candy, than money. Still, not a bad weekly haul. The people who fund these payments are the elders of the church family, Pastor, Church Mothers, and Church Uncles and Aunts. Ever since she was born, Baby Girl has gotten candy and money from these elders. Except for one person. One Church Mother, small in stature, with big glasses and an even bigger smile. She makes payments in the form of books. Ever since Baby Girl was born, this wise Church Mother regularly, and unassumingly, gives her one or two books every few weeks. From church stories to Dr. Seuss.From classics Church Mother read as a kid, to new storiesfor the new ages. Baby Girl loves the books! She looks forward to the books. And when she gets new books from Church Mother, we absolutely have to read them right away.

I love the books too! Beyond the colorful characters and simple adventures, there is always a wise nugget to learn. A bit if knowledge to be bestowed. Something that when I want Baby Girl to understand life, I can refer to one of the many books we read. Question for you: What books of wisdom and knowledge are you giving people? We all make our way through life collecting books; wisdom and knowledge. Have you shared your books with anyone? Younger members of your organization? Of your group? Of your family?

Passing on wisdom and knowledge should come from wise elders and thought leaders, right? When I sometimes feel I have nothing to offer anyone, I remember this statement that was told to me: “To the third grader, the fifth grader is an expert.”You don’t have to know all the answers to life to enrich some else’s life. Give what you have. You have no idea how much someone would enjoy your story. That seeming ordinary story, that can have an extraordinary impact.

 About the Author  

 NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Change & the Evolving Fire Service

Change is difficult. Nothing about the word sounds uplifting. It’s so frowned upon, people don’t like hearing the word “change” in life, at work, in daily activities, to the majority it’s a bad word. What if I said, instead of the word change, we use the word evolve? How would it then appear to you?

Change happens every day and it’s all around us. We are creatures of habit and an object in motion prefers to stay in motion. To interrupt this takes energy and intention for our brain to pause and think about doing things differently than it has been doing it.

This is true in the fire service. The fire service without a doubt has changed. Within the last 20-25 years the evolution of the modern building construction from the legacy construction, to the heat release rate in the byproducts of combustion found in residential homes alone is defining a change in the service.

Well, what about the evolution of technology? That certainly has changed or better yet evolved.

Self-contained breathing apparatus was nonexistent 30 years ago and now it’s a staple of our PPE. Thermal imaging and Personal Alert Safety Systems were stand-alone pieces of equipment and yet rarely used, that are now available to be built in to the SCBA. I can go on and on with the changes in technology but it can go on for days.

What if I said the fire service community has changed? Would you agree? Would you disagree? Or would you say it has evolved?

I get it. We all have that small group in our firehouse that doesn’t agree to change or evolve with the times. It’s part of life and part of how the world goes around but it’s also part of how we evolve. The older generation of firefighters have a lot of knowledge and wisdom behind them, take that and learn from it. How they fought fires has changed from how we today are even thinking about fighting fires and there’s nothing wrong with that. The generations of today are starting off with more equipment, more safety and more in depth training from the start. The risk awareness today is more prevalent than it was prior to the turn of the century and has been growing since. Fitness, cancer, modern fire behavior, modern building construction are all areas that are on the forefront of the new wave of the fire service community.

When the world has advancements in medical science, health & wellness and engineering the fire service is affected and plays a part in it. Although change is in fact difficult and setbacks will be inevitable, pathways for thinking differently and behaving can happen. This is created and strengthened over time with the intention to do so and the effort to do so. Only repetition will make the new change become the new normal.

This is how the fire service has grown and evolved. This is how the fire service has change. It changed by the way of the world.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

About the Author  

 NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 16 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ as well as NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor and currently a State of New Jersey Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation. A martial arts practitioner in Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai as well as a former collegiate athlete in baseball, Nick is also a National Exercise & Sports Trainer Association Battle Ropes Instructor and studying for the Functional Fitness Instructor certification.  He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

Farmers are Servant Leaders

Baby Girl is anxious to go to a farm. Considering we are city living people, I suppose it's the novelty of it all. This started at a holiday dinner that one of my supervisors invited us to. He doesn’t have a farm, per se. But he has chickens, and goats and other animals. That is close enough for Baby Girl.

Me, I really respect farmers. I'm a city kid. I know more about ant farms versus a real farm. Here's what I do know. Farmers wake up at a time that military people refer to as "O Dark 30". They spend countless hours taking care of animals and crops. Season after season, they put seeds in the ground. Those seedsturn into fruit, or veggies, or whatever else. From their section of the ground, they send out things to every section of the world. All of this, without ever meeting the people they help. I never met the farmer that grows the apples that Baby Girl and I use tomake apple pie. But because of those apples, baby girl and I have shared full tummies and special memories. What an impact.

Alan Brunacini and Carl Holmes are very much farmers. Not that they grow apples, at least, I don't think so. I never met Brunacini, the famous inspirational fire chief from Phoenix, AZ. I only met Dr. Holmes, an African-American trailblazer in the fire service, once. I don't have the pictures that others have posted with them. I don't have stories of long conversations we had. But I have benefited from the fruit of their work.

My first promotional test in the fire service had Brunacini's Fire Command book as one of the study items. Many of the people who have attended the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute (EDI) continue to guide me in my fire service career. In both cases, my life and career are improved from a distance. What an impact.

It is in 2017 that both of these men passed away. One could say that they went on to oversee the fire service from a different vantage point. A new command post. And just like an emergency incident, Bruno and Holmes will still have their impact felt into 2018, and beyond without us seeing them. From the leaders that have been nourished by their work. From the organizations that still stand to continue to provide a harvest.I hope to have that kind of impact for people I may never met. I am hopeful that I am planting seeds that will provide others with the guidance they need. At one time they may have seemed to be ordinary people, but fire service history will show Alan Brunacini and Carl Holmes had an extraordinary impact.

The Motto of the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute: “All that I am I Owe, I am Eternally in the Red”

 About the Author 

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance. 

Perceptions. Life in the Public Eye

The other night on my way home from dinner with my wife, we decided to stop for a quick drink. I don’t know about anyone else, but every time I walk into any type of building or store I always take a quick survey around. I look at the atmosphere, type of clientele, décor, entrances, exits, and even the type of building construction. Shortly after we sat down I noticed a group of firefighters at the bar hanging out, drinking, and having a good time.

I was glad to see that they were getting along so well, and it was nice to see the wide range of ages within the group. Having friendships outside the firehouse is also a very good thing to have as it helps build a stronger connection and a more cohesive group. However, the question that is raised is how did I know they were firefighters? Well, the answer to that is actually simple. The group were all wearing company clothing; t-shirts, job shirts, and a few were even in full station wear uniform.

As the night progressed and I was enjoying my time with my wife I couldn’t help but notice the group of firefighters having beer after beer and shot after shot. They were getting louder and louder and rowdier and rowdier. It was unmistakable as to the fact that they were there and who they were.

The object of this post is not to put anyone down, make me out to be an angel, to rip on anyone. The object of this post is to try to bring the concept of Perception in the Public Eye to light. Hanging out with the guys and enjoying each other’s company and having a good time. There is a point though where you have to be smart about it.

The citizens we are responsible to protect call us in their hour of need. They know that if they need help the fire department will always be there. As public servants, we are often looked at in a different manner and all too often held to a much higher standard in the publics eyes. Anytime we are out in public wearing shirts, hats, jackets, job-shirts, uniforms, or anything related to our department we turn into walking billboards and automatically people start paying more attention to us, weather we know it or not.

As we all know, social media is a huge part of everyday life. Basically everyone has a camera phone and instant access to multiple different forms of social media platforms. By wearing any type of company attire while drinking and carrying on it opens yourself up for a ton of negative publicity. All it would take is one person to take a picture and post it to social media and spin a caption in a negative light. It doesn’t matter if what is posted is exactly what happened or not, what matters is people will see people in uniforms drinking and carrying on. Then every time they see someone in uniform they will remember what they saw.

It is alright to go out and have fun, everyone has to be able to have a good time. You just have to remember to be smart about it. Remember how you act and what you wear reflects not only on you, but your department, and the entire fire service family. Always try to conduct yourself as if someone is always watching, because when you are wearing company attire you are putting yourself under the microscope of public perception.

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 15 years in the fire service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

When Help Asks for You

One day, I'm riding in the back of the fire engine, because, when you are in the fire department, that's what you do. Then a guy looks at me and says "so, what are you good at?" "Nothing, really" "Come on, everybody's good at something! That guy, was Marcello Trejo. He was good at plenty of things: Fitness. Compassion. Keeping people laughing. He was the kind of person that when he came to mind, I would wonder what kind of extraordinary impact he would have on the entire fire service. He was not the guy I would have thought would have taken his own life. TD Jakes talks in one of his sermons that some people can be going through turmoil and no one ever know it. Are you one of those folks with turmoil hidden behind a smile? Would you know what to do if someone you knew was that person?

When I take a flight, the flight attendant always has in his or her safety briefing that when we lose cabin pressure, first put your mask, then help the person next to you. In the military and in public safety, we rarely do that. Instead, we fail to see how taking care of ourselves, can be the best things we can do to help others. Instead, like a superhero from the 50's or 60's, we set out to save the world on our own. Not realizing that superheroes of today need, and get, help from ordinary people who care about them. 

For the month of Sep, I've decided that every day, I'll do 22 pushups for the military suicides that happen every day. Then another 13 Burpees to represent initiative 13, the Behavioral Health Initiative from the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. I started to video the workouts, but then I thought "I'm no star athlete, what's the point in that?" Instead, every day, I'm going post something I learn about mental health or suicide. A story. A fact. Info about an organization. Sometimes it will be a video, sometimes just an encouraging word.

The challenge I have for you, not to do push-ups. Go learn something new about mental health or suicide, and post on my blog at www.helpasks4u.wordpress.com  Whether the help is for you personally, or if the help is for someone you care about, remember this:

"Ask for Help, because help always asks for you." Marcello Trejo

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

The Drive to Develop Leadership

Have you ever thought of owning your dream car? Think of that for a moment. The perfect year, make, model, color, and whatever else is a must have for you. For me, it would be a 1969 Pontiac Trans AM. Chrome wheels, immaculate paint, and in pristine condition. Problem is, if I found that car today, in that condition, I couldn't afford it.   

Instead, I would be looking for a car in need of repair. I would put in the needed work to bring out all of the best qualities of it. It would take time and hard work, but at the end of it, my dream would be a reality. That's what it is like to build up leadership in a person. It doesn't matter if that is yourself or someone else. No one starts off completed. We all have our various flaws. But with hard work and a time investment, we can maximize the leadership potential inside of us and the people around us. Are you ready to get you leadership skills to show room condition?

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

What I Know Now About Leadership

"That's how you plan to handle that? That is the response I got from the drill instructor when he asked me how I was going to handle a problem that just happened in the dorm. It was somewhere around the fall/winter of 1992. I was all of 17 years old. And within a few months of being in basic training for the Air Force, I choose to lead about 50 recruits as the dorm chief. The other guy didn't fare so well. For the life of me, I have no idea why I decided to take the leadership plunge.

I take that back; I know why I did. No one else would. Life had already taught me that one way to make sure to stay around for a while is to do the jobs no one else will. I didn't know it then, but that was a pivotal moment in my training to be a leader.

The question the drill Instructor asked me dealt with how am I going to fix a particular problem if I couldn't get people to listen to me. My answer was to tell him the problem so he could handle it. The tone of his voice clued me into the notion that was not the response he was looking for. What I didn't understand at the time was he was looking for me handle it. But I had no ideal by how.

I've heard that experience comes from how you have had to work through trails and/or fix your mistakes. In the following weeks, I gained a lot of experience. Here's what I now know about leadership:

1.      Leadership is figure-outable

I didn't have the right leadership answer for the drill Instructor that day, but I have learned a better answer over time thanks to experience. It's amazing what you can find in you when forced to look.

2.      Everyone has potential to be a leader

Not everyone knows it. Not everyone has the same level of leader capabilities. It's a process of self-discovery.

3.      Getting to really know people is one way to be a better leader for them

Connect people's values to the direction you need to go. if you don't know the people well enough, you will struggle with this.

4.      Finally, leadership is a transferable credit

I took those lessons in leadership from the military, and have put them to use in the fire service to help move individuals, and hopefully organizations forward.

 Now, how do you plan to handle your next leadership question?

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Lead from the front or lead from the back? It doesn’t matter as long as there’s a leader

In today’s world, there is a strong need for leaders to emerge. Some will go to work and do their usual 9 to 5, go home, go to sleep and do it all over again wondering if their manager will ever recognize their strengths and honor their accomplishments. Unfortunately that isn’t the case when we speak about managers. Managers will be there to oversee work and make sure the work gets completed but that’s as far as it goes. Why? Because that’s their job and that’s what they are paid to do. They are results driven based on objectives and don’t have time or take the risks to go beyond that. This goes for all professions across the board. Not all professions have leaders in managerial roles and they aren’t expected to because that’s not what managers are there for. This is part of the reason the fire service has been as strong as it has been since its inception in the United States by a great man known as Benjamin Franklin.
It has been known for many decades that the two things that resonate deep in the fire service is family and respect for our fellow firefighters and our customers; in this case the residents of the community we are sworn to protect. Firefighters want leaders to lead them when the bell goes off and the same goes for those outside of the fire service but how does this happen? 

Simple!

Be your own leader. 

We can all have a manager driving us each day to produce the results they want for their company because in the end all companies have a goal they need to complete. For us in the fire service it’s saving lives and protecting property. For those in the corporate world, it’s producing the numbers to make a profit and working long hours away from family to produce those numbers is what a manger will push their subordinates to do in order to meet those deadlines. 

So why do I say be your own leader? I say this because if you can’t lead yourself you’ll never lead anyone else or go beyond your limits of expectation. It shouldn’t matter where you are in the organization, from the newbie to the most experienced, a leader knows how to build a following regardless of title. The following are my 4 traits to being an effective in and out of the firehouse.

1.    Be Honest. Nothing says leadership than honesty. Building a solid foundation based on honesty not only builds trust between you and those you work with but also keeps them inspired to want to work with you. 

2.    Inspire Others. In order to do this you, yourself must be inspired to excel in your role. If you’re not enthused about what you do others won’t be either. This is another way of leading by example.

3.    Stay Positive. There will be times things will be tough and throwing your hands in the air swearing sometimes natural happens. That’s ok, stay calm and stay positive. The more positive you look the better off everyone around you is during chaotic times. The best chiefs are the ones who remain calm on the radio despite all the chaos around them. Listen to radio transmissions of other departments and take notes on how each officer speaks on the radio. Take the calm ones and keep them in memory to try and emulate their calmness. Also, do the same for the ones who are frantically screaming and tell yourself to try and avoid that as much as possible. This will all come with experience and many years of practice for most.

4.    Be Committed. Be committed to yourself first. Then be committed to your job and your crew. This starts with training. Keeping your skill fresh and sharpened says a lot about you as a person as it does as a leader. People tend to flock to those who are committed to the job and take pride and excellence in it. You don’t need to be the officer to the guy who starts a training session. We are all in this together. 

There they are. My four traits to being a leader. Take these and use them in your life to grow and inspire those to work with and meet on a daily basis. 

Being a manager comes from a title promotion. Being a leader comes from within.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe and live inspired.  

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 14 years of service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.