Personnel Development

May 16, 2013

Commentary

Successful succession is no accident

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
Apr. 8, 2013

Commentary

Are you a 'bad' leader? 4

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
Mar. 17, 2013

Commentary

Fire Chief

Using the Internet for virtual mentoring

Retirements, belt-tightening, work-force reductions and layoffs have left many departments with a “leadership drain.” Gone are the veterans around whom we built companies, battalions and divisions. As training, travel and officer-development budgets have disappeared, many newly promoted, junior-line and staff officers haven’t received the tools they need to succeed....More
Mar. 4, 2013

Commentary

How personnel practices can reduce the allegations of junior-firefighter abuses

When training personnel who will be working with junior firefighters, explain personal-space boundaries, the need to be professional at all times, the need to be cognizant of hand placement when boosting someone up on a piece of equipment, and so on....More
Feb. 17, 2013

Commentary

Despite progress, fire service still needs to change firefighter safety culture 2

Occasionally, I like to thumb through old issues of FIRE CHIEF. Doing so reminds me of how much progress has been made in the fire service. Still, each time I do it, I find several topics that linger on like toxins in the soil....More
Feb. 4, 2013

Commentary

Haircut hazing raises other liability issues

Based on the limited public facts available, the “haircut hazing” incident raises a number of issues: What should be investigated, when should it be investigated, and what role does “public outcry” have, if any, with respect to the decision to investigate?...More
Jan. 30, 2013

Video

Fire Chief

FDNY's safety chief on creating a can-do seatbelt culture 1

FIRE CHIEF Editorial Director Janet Wilmoth speaks with Steve Raynis, chief of safety for the FDNY, about ways to increase firefighter seatbelt use....More
Jan. 14, 2013

Article

Fire Chief

How new chiefs can assess the change potential in their fire departments 1

New chiefs need to assess their organizations’ ability to change — and begin the process before their first day....More
Jan. 11, 2013

Commentary

Finding fire department success beyond the day-to-day

By Dennis Compton -- "Mindfulness" as it relates to the leader of an organization would deal more with being aware of — and connected to — those things that are potential threats to the success of the organization as a whole....More
Dec. 10, 2012

Article

Fire Chief

Longtime fire service instructor Peltier passes away

Jack Peltier, a popular fire instructor and nearly 60-year veteran of the fire service, passed away Sunday of sudden illness. He was 71....More