Leadership and Ownership in the Fire Service

Questions and Answers

What is the significance of the phrase "If not you, then who" in the fire service?

It is a call to action for individuals to step up and take ownership.

What is the key to making positive changes in your department?

Developing an ownership mentality

How can accomplishments be celebrated in the fire service?

Through formal ceremonies

What is the recommended approach when leading or instructing?

Ask questions and don't assume knowledge or understanding Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to check your ego at the door?

To avoid making mistakes or hindering progress Signup and view all the answers

What needs to change in order for the culture of a station or department to change?

You need to do something different Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if what you're doing isn't working?

Make changes Signup and view all the answers

What is important when leading those under your watch?

Being clear on your expectations Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to learn how to communicate effectively with different individuals?

To improve teamwork and collaboration Signup and view all the answers

What can limiting beliefs do?

Hold you back in your personal and professional lives Signup and view all the answers

What is necessary for success, especially in promotional exams?

Putting in the work Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if you experience failure?

Keep moving forward Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

"If not you, then who" is a common phrase in the fire service, meaning if you don't take responsibility, who will?
Developing an ownership mentality is key to making positive changes in your department.
Celebrating accomplishments is important and can be done through formal ceremonies.
When leading or instructing, ask questions and don't assume knowledge or understanding.
Check your ego at the door to avoid making mistakes or hindering progress.
The culture of your station or department won't change until you do something different.
If what you're doing isn't working, make changes.
Be clear on your expectations when leading those under your watch.
Learn how to communicate effectively with different individuals.
The results you have now are a result of the hard work you've done over the years.
Ego can be a problem in the fire service, causing poor communication and decision-making.
Prejudging others based on rumors or first impressions is a common human tendency.
Good leadership involves listening to and valuing the input of all team members.
Trying out suggestions and letting people learn from their own experiences can lead to better solutions.
Limiting beliefs can hold us back in our personal and professional lives.
Putting in the work is necessary for success, especially in promotional exams.
Failure is a part of the process, but it's important to keep moving forward.
People should be their own heroes and work towards their goals.
Everyone has something to offer, regardless of their rank or experience.
Open-mindedness and humility are important qualities for effective leadership.
Individuals need to take ownership of their own accomplishments
Design your own crew patch
Attend more training to improve skills
Don't rely solely on higher-ups to solve problems
Problem solvers are often those on the floor
Permission is not needed to be good at your job
Chief officers may be unaware of floor-level experiences
Issues sent up the chain of command may become disconnected from the problem
Individuals should take initiative to solve problems
Personal responsibility is key to success.