By Jack Abraham -- This article will define servant-leadership from both perspectives and apply them to the fire department culture with the goal of encouraging your interest in this leadership style and motivating you to conduct additional research on the topic....More
By Steve Prziborowski -- It isn't a 50/50 balance, as there is a time and place for tradition, and a time and place for progression. Unfortunately some focus too much on one and ignore the other....More
The right leadership can bring out the best in everyone while a bad boss can destroy morale and reduce success, said Kathleen Brush, a 25-year veteran of international business and author of The Power of One: You're the Boss....More
Money is not the most important factor in leading a top preforming fire department; however, it is right up there with oxygen. Understanding that is important, but knowing how to position your department to receive your fair share of the revenue is key to successfully riding out the economic downturn and moving your organization forward....More
By Denis Onieal -- To the unethical, there’s no amount of warning or prediction of doom that will make you change. You probably didn’t read this far. To the 100% ethical, there’s no need to read this far. It’s easy; you never have to make a decision between what is right and "a little wrong."...More
The council asks for individuals and organizations to help these volunteers by making a contribution to the NVFC’s Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund. Donations are needed as the fund is depleted and requests for assistance continue to come in, the NVFC reported....More
Among the many traits highly successful fire chiefs and chief executive officers possess, two of them play a very important role. They are consistency in proper conduct and in showing high moral fiber....More
For leaders, having emotional intelligence is essential for success. After all, who is more likely to succeed: a leader who shouts at his or her team when stressed, or a leader who stays in control and calmly assesses the situation?...More
FIRE CHIEF Editor Lisa Allegretti attended the IAFC's New Chief Leadership Symposium this week in Phoenix. She asked some of the presenters what they thought was the best piece of advice they had received....More
VFIS's Ryan Pietzsch said that many agencies do not consider safety and security during the fire station design phase. Instead, they wait until after construction is completed and accidents or losses begin to occur....More
By Daniel B.C. Gardiner--Hundreds of pieces of fire apparatus will be blasting their way down different Main Streets this Memorial Day, giving nearby spectators as well as the firefighters in the line of march, a good dose of acoustic trauma....More
Bad news spreads faster than good news — and thanks to social media, it spreads in nano seconds. Whether a fire chief is accused of altering drug prescriptions, driving teens to prom on a fire truck or failing to perform during crisis response, millions know about it in the blink of an eye. But the fire and emergency service also is filled with good news and inspirational stories that I wish more people heard....More
Is it better to promote within to meet the cultural demands of a fire department, or should cities feel free to bring in outside people for new ideas?...More
Business literature has numerous examples of successful businesses built on the model of visionary chief executive officer who drove the organization to high performance but neglected succession as part of his or her vision and responsibilities. These companies often floundered if not outright failed....More