BY FRANK VISCUSO
Some people like to debate whether leaders are made or born. Most likely, some true leaders are born, but most are made-“self-made.” A smart fire officer will concentrate on developing the leadership qualities and traits that are necessary for success. For the most part, leadership traits in any profession are universal. In the fire service, however, there are specific qualities that an officer absolutely must possess. Below, I define 13 leadership traits that firefighters and the public look for in a fire service leader and offer suggestions on developing the areas in which you feel you are lacking. Officers and firefighters in general who regularly demonstrate these leadership traits will earn the respect and confidence of their peers. By possessing these characteristics, you will make it easier for people to want to follow you. The less time you have to spend on getting others to follow you, the more time you get to spend refining exactly where you want to go and how to get there.
LOYAL
You are devoted to the fire service, your community, your department, and your crew. It should flow evenly, up and down the chain of command, to seniors, subordinates, and peers. To be loyal is to be dependable and trustworthy-others can rely on you to perform your duties properly and trust you to complete your assignment every time.
Develop it by refraining from discussing the internal problems of the department or your company with outsiders. Never talk unfavorably about seniors or superior officers in front of your subordinates. Also, carry out every task to the best of your ability regardless of whether you like or agree with it. Once a decision is made and you are ordered to execute it, carry out that order willingly as if it were your own.
EDUCATED
You continue to acquire the appropriate information from reliable sources and understand your fireground duties, the policies and procedures of your department, and the science of firefighting. Your education should be broad, and you should never stop trying to improve your knowledge base. The day you think you know too much is the day you should consider retiring.
Develop it by increasing your knowledge through continual learning and remaining alert. Constantly listen, observe, and learn about things you don’t understand. Read fire service textbooks, attend educational seminars, talk to street-smart firefighters, and ask questions. An endless supply of knowledge is available-you just have to seek it.
ADAPTABLE
You can quickly adjust to rapidly changing conditions, which is a paramount trait for all firefighters because situations escalate quickly on the fireground. In seconds, a “routine” fire can turn into a life-threatening situation, which is why there is no such thing as a “routine” fire. Your ability to evaluate and revise your strategies on the fly is imperative.
Develop it by continually educating yourself-never stop! The more you know, the better equipped you will be to react and adjust. Practice being proactive, not reactive. The more capable you are at seeing problems before they happen, the more effective you will be as a firefighter.
DETERMINED
You have laser-sharp focus on the goal you are trying to achieve. There’s a saying, “Brick walls aren’t there to keep you out-they’re there to see how bad you want to get in.” That’s the way an aggressive, strong-minded firefighter should think when performing a duty on the fireground. The word “determined” in regard to firefighting is synonymous with “heroic.”
Develop it by never, ever giving up. Don’t stop until the goal has been achieved or tactics have been revised. Proper risk assessment goes without saying, but when firefighters say they risk a lot to save lives, they don’t just say it-they live it.
ENTHUSIASTIC
Enthusiasm reflects a sincere interest and exuberance in performing your duties. When you are enthusiastic, you are optimistic, cheerful, and willing to accept challenges, the type of person who is eager to take on more responsibility. The fire service needs more leaders with this trait because enthusiasm is contagious.
Develop it by understanding and believing in the mission of the fire service-this will increase your enthusiasm for the job. Our mission is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the weak. To do this, everyone must fulfill a role on the fireground. It’s important to understand why you should do even the most uninteresting jobs with the proper attitude.
RESOURCEFUL
As a resourceful firefighter, you skillfully, safely, and promptly navigate your way through a variety of situations, regardless of the availability or lack thereof of tools, staffing, or resources at any given moment. If you are resourceful, you are creative and will always be seen as a person with ingenuity who shows initiative and can get the job done, no matter what.
Develop it by thinking outside of the box. Don’t get tunnel vision. There are always alternative ways to accomplish a task. Once again, being knowledgeable is the key to success in this area. It’s not enough to simply know what tools are available. You must know how to use them. To improve your resourcefulness, you must also work on staying mentally and physically alert.
SELFLESS
This is having little or no concern for oneself. Firefighting is arguably the most selfless job on the planet. It’s our job to put the safety and well-being of others ahead of our own. Although selfless is synonymous with self-sacrifice, this doesn’t mean you should disregard safe practices. To be selfless also means you are considerate of others and openly give credit to those who deserve it.
Develop it by thinking more about others and less about yourself. Avoid using your position or rank for personal gain, safety, or pleasure at the expense of others. Be considerate of those you work with and give credit where credit is due. It’s amazing how much your team can accomplish when you praise often and in public.
TOUGH
To be tough is to be strong and resilient, able to withstand adverse conditions. With toughness comes the ability to endure great strain without breaking. This means both physically and mentally, and it’s a necessity for firefighters of all ranks. There is nothing easy about fighting fires. If a person is not tough, this simply isn’t the right profession for him.
Develop it by learning to love the fight itself. Champions in every arena love to compete. However, it is vitally important to cultivate your love of the fight more than your love of winning. This way of thinking will help improve your mental toughness. Improving your physical toughness will come from a consistent workout program.
EMPATHETIC
It has been said, “Firefighters are constantly meeting new people and spending the worst moments of their lives with them.” Don’t lose sight of that fact. Your job isn’t just to put the fire out; it’s also to provide guidance for the people we serve and protect. Showing empathy means being kind and tactful when dealing with people who have just lost property, valuables, or worse-loved ones.
Develop it by treating others the way you would like to be treated.
ASSERTIVE
As an assertive firefighter, you are aggressively self-assured and confident. You know what to do on the fireground and around the firehouse and how to do it. More importantly, you don’t need to be told to do it. You just do it, and when you recognize an unsafe practice, you are confident enough to stop the act before someone gets hurt.
Develop it by knowing your job. Take a moment to think about your options; then be aggressive and self-assured when you make a decision. You should be firm, but remember the third trait of a strong fire service leader, and remain adaptable, so you can quickly adjust your strategy when necessary.
COURAGEOUS
“Courageous” and “brave” are the first words that come to most people’s minds when they think of firefighters. Courage allows you to remain calm while recognizing fear. Moral courage means having the inner strength to stand up for what is right and to accept blame when something is your fault. Physical courage means that you can continue to function effectively when there is physical danger present.
Develop it by controlling fear through the practice of self-discipline and calmness. If you fear doing certain things that are required in your daily life, force yourself to do them until you can control your reaction. Lead by example. It doesn’t take a hero to order someone into battle; it takes a hero to lead others into battle from the front line. Last, keep in mind, courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the management of fear.
HONORABLE
To be honorable means you are worthy of honor and high respect. This is a by-product of the other traits mentioned above. When you put honesty, integrity, sense of duty, and sound moral principles above all else, you are operating in an honorable and ethical way.
Develop it by being absolutely honest and truthful at all times. Stand up for what you believe is right. Always do the right thing. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If it is not legal, moral, or ethical, DON’T do it!
LEADERS TEACH
You can always remember these essential leadership traits with the acronym LEADERS TEACH, each letter of which corresponds to the first letter of each of the traits described above. By remembering this acronym, you will be better able to recall the traits. This acronym is actually the 13th trait of good fire service leaders-they TEACH others what they know. By teaching, you instill confidence. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader. A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.”
There are obviously other important traits for firefighters, like humility, good judgment, strong motivational skills, and the ability to communicate, but the ones listed above are vital to your success as a leader. Your skill at exhibiting these qualities will be firmly linked with people’s desire to follow you. Exhibiting these traits will inspire confidence in your leadership ability. Not exhibiting these traits or exhibiting the opposite of these traits will decrease your leadership influence with those around you.
LEADERSHIP FAILURE
To be thorough, we should discuss some of the traits associated with failure. As important as understanding what it is that makes a good leader is to understand why so many leaders fail. Below is a list of some traits associated with poor leadership.
- Lack of passion.
- Unclear vision.
- Poor communication skills.
- Risk aversion.
- Callous.
- Unethical.
- Poor self-management.
- Incompetence.
- Plays the victim.
- Tears others down.
- Micromanager.
- First to take the credit.
- Last to take the blame.
When someone in authority displays poor leadership traits, the mission that person is trying to accomplish is doomed to fail. A fire service officer will never earn the respect of his crew unless that officer develops the qualities that align with those of great leaders.
When firefighters under your leadership look at an action you have taken and think, “That’s why you are the one in charge,” you are on the right track. If such moments are rare, some demonstration of your competency will help boost your leadership influence. By consciously developing and exhibiting the traits listed above, people will be more likely and willing to follow you. By exhibiting these traits regularly, you will earn the respect of others and increase your effectiveness as an influential leader.
FRANK VISCUSO is a 21-year veteran of the fire service and a tour commander in the Kearny (NJ) Fire Department. He is a speaker, co-creator of FireOpsOnline, and the author of five books, including Step Up and Lead (Fire Engineering, 2013).
Frank Viscuso will present “Officer Development: Leadership Skills” on Thursday, April 10, 2014, 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., at FDIC 2014 in Indianapolis.
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