Leadership and Communication in the Firehouse

Questions and Answers

What is one effective way to ensure tasks are completed?

Providing regular feedback and review of expectations

What is an important trait of effective leaders?

Good communication skills and the courage to give honest feedback

What is essential for effective leadership?

Leaders being held to a higher standard

What is the purpose of the company contribution exercise?

To provide feedback on the state of the department Signup and view all the answers

What can cause toxic fire station cultures?

A weak officer and poorly trained senior members Signup and view all the answers

What is essential for transparent communication in the firehouse?

Face-to-face communication Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of quantifying qualitative data in the company contribution exercise?

To place each member of the company into a contribution category Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of introducing new members to the house in a unique and effective way?

To promote teamwork and ensure success Signup and view all the answers

What can hinder interpersonal relationships in the firehouse?

Technology Signup and view all the answers

What is important in determining firehouse trust?

Both sincerity and sarcasm Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the benchmarks for rating the contribution in column 1 of the company contribution exercise?

To describe a level of team contribution Signup and view all the answers

What can lack of leadership and effective supervision be for a leader?

A weakness Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Many firefighters and fire officers have not had one-on-one discussions about expectations.
Supervisors should not assume that their subordinates know what is expected of them.
Regular feedback and review of expectations are effective ways to ensure that tasks are completed.
Effective leaders communicate well and have the courage to give honest feedback.
The first company officer the author served under had a unique and effective way of introducing new members to the house.
The crew was demanding but not degrading, and they worked together as a team to ensure success.
Transparent, two-way, face-to-face communication is essential for effective leadership.
Technology can be a distraction and hinder interpersonal relationships in the firehouse.
Sincerity and sarcasm are important in determining firehouse trust.
Trust is essential for effective leadership, and leaders must be held to a higher standard.
The strongest brotherhoods and sisterhoods allow their members to fail.
10 common toxins that invade homes around the country are listed.
Lack of leadership and effective supervision is a kryptonite for a leader.
A weak officer and poorly trained senior members cause toxic fire station cultures.
The company contribution exercise is an annual assessment of each member's contribution to their fire company.
The exercise provides feedback on the state of the department and identifies training and development needs.
The leadership team quantifies qualitative data and places each member of their company into a contribution category.
Column 1 contribution describes a level of team contribution, benchmarks for rating the contribution, a root cause where relevant, an action step for increasing the contribution, and multiple action items for achieving the action step.
Column 2 contribution deals with regular employees who choose to do the minimum to stay employed.
The member's ambition can be stimulated based on the feedback from the exercise.