My offices at home and at the fire station are filled with books on leadership and management. Some of the titles are classics written by Tom Peters, Peter Drucker, Wess Roberts, James Kouzes and Barry Posner. More recent titles include work from authors such as David Freedman and Marine Corps Gen. Charles Krulak (Ret.), Alan Axlerod, Jim Collins and James Strock.

These texts cover the complexities of leadership and management in everything from the successful military campaigns of the Civil War to current institutional dynamics. Each author presents several hypotheses, both on core issues that help mold leaders and on the organizational cultures they leave as part of their legacy.

So why should fire and EMS officers care about these books? For those who want to get the very best from their departments or from individual crew members, these works shed some light on two of the most important words in the English language: Golden Rule.

If you remember the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you," then you will see my point. If you think the adage reads "He who has the gold, rules," then you'll need the tutorial at the end of this article.

One of the most powerful motivators in the world today is a simple "thank you." People long to hear it from family, friends and co-workers. So why then do we, as officers who are trying to motivate others, forget to use it?

When was the last time you, as a fire chief, thanked someone for a job well done? It is easy to do after a spectacular response. For example, when US Air 1549 crashed into the Hudson River in January, Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and his flight crew did the impossible. They not only accomplished the most-successful and most-photographed water landing in aviation history, they also safely evacuated all 155 passengers and crew members. Nearby ferry boats, FDNY Marine Company units, police patrol craft, Coast Guard units and others quickly brought these individuals to shore.

That was only part of the story, however. I was equally amazed at the FDNY Marine Company's adept use of fireboats. They secured the aircraft and guided it to the Battery Park area, where the plane was lashed to prevent it from sinking until cranes and barges could lift it out of the water for the subsequent extensive investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

What chief, even in New York, could have imagined over his morning coffee that his department would need to respond to a potential water mass-casualty incident and prevent a million-pound aircraft filled with fuel and evidence from sinking into a river — in less than two hours? Add the pressure of knowing that every news outlet, television, computer or smartphone in the free world was tuned into this drama, and you can easily see why these responders all deserve credit for a job well done.

While most firefighters won't respond to such a high-profile event in their careers, there are many times each day when thanking them is still appropriate. Whether a department relies on volunteers, part-time, paid-on-call or career personnel, chiefs should be able to answer the next question: When was the last time you thanked those who showed up in the bitter cold at 2:30 in the morning for the alarm drop that turned out to be a burst sprinkler pipe? I am amazed how this simple phrase not only bolsters those who responded to the call, but also can prompt those who chose to sleep in to respond the next time. More importantly, the thanks may pay dividends when the next alarm drop turns out to be the working structure fire of the decade and you don't have to play catch-up from the initial response.

What about the firefighter who is diligent in his or her work, who keeps you updated with an e-mail on the status of a project or who turns in a report on time so you don't have to hunt for information to pass on to the city manager or fire commission? A sticky note or e-mail reply with a "thank you" and one sentence of appreciation will help keep that individual motivated to do more for the department.

Are thanks appropriate for a mopped floor, cleaned kitchen or washed trucks? Absolutely. This is especially true if you didn't have to tell the firefighter that the work was needed, or for those who give their time freely for little more than a pat on the back or kind word.

What happens when there is no encouragement? Here is one example.