BY RICHARD MARINUCCI
I work for a great boss. He treats me very well, provides direction, lets me do my job, calls me on issues when necessary, allows debate, and even tells me when I am wrong. (Now, before I get accused of blatantly “sucking up,” let it be known that my boss doesn’t read this magazine! Why? I don’t know!) I had been fortunate most of my working life to have good to great bosses-but not always.
THE PROBLEM
What do you do when you and the boss don’t see eye to eye? What happens when you have a personality conflict, or your boss does not meet your expectations or have your passion for the job? This is potentially a huge problem that can affect you in many ways personally and professionally. If not addressed, it can lead to health problems and career issues.
A couple of people approached me during FDIC 2006 about this issue. They were trying to better themselves and believed that their talents were being suppressed, their boss wasn’t doing a very good job, their boss didn’t treat them fairly or appropriately, or the two of them just didn’t get along.
This certainly presents a challenging issue with a couple of key points. It most likely is an emotional issue, often the result of personality differences. It also can result from disparate perceptions: The boss may not think the worker is capable, and vice versa. Regardless, there is a disconnect. What can you do?
THE SOLUTION
Preparation is the key. Pursue higher education, and continue to get as much training as possible. Expand your horizons, and seek other job responsibilities. If you are capable in multiple disciplines, you might find another supervisor who is more to your liking in a related area. If you have mentors or trusted individuals, either inside or outside the department, seek their counsel. They may have some suggestions that will be of help. Also, take a critical look at yourself. Some people have an inflated value of their performance and contribution. Constructive criticism from an officer you respect or any other individual that you trust will help identify your strengths and weaknesses. Someone once said that luck is when preparation meets opportunity. You may find that the more you know, the luckier you will become at finding options to pursue.
There were two times in my adult life when I was faced with this situation. The first occurred before I entered the fire service and actually resulted in my entering the fire department. In a previous life, I taught middle school. (People always ask what I taught: I tell them I taught first and second grade math to eight and ninth graders!) The issue was not teaching. I liked that part of the job. I had difficulty with other aspects. I kept busy with class work and extracurricular activities. I went back to college. I also was very lucky and was introduced to the fire service. Because of my background and education, I was able to compete for a position when it became available. Without continual preparation, I would not have had many options.
The second occasion took place relatively early in my fire service career. I had a boss who was young and appeared to have a long career in front of him. It became obvious to me that I would not be able to continue with the existing working relationship. Again, I had continued my education and training since the beginning of my career and had pursued various interests in the fire service. This gave me a wide range of experiences. I began to apply to other agencies in pursuit of a better situation. Shortly thereafter, my boss left unexpectedly. Because of my education and experience, I was named acting chief while the city advertised for a permanent replacement. To make a long story short, I was the replacement. The point is that I am totally convinced that my preparation made me ready to accept the responsibility when the opportunity arose.
I realize not everyone is in a position to change jobs. Sometimes you are stuck. We are discussing things to do so you are not stuck forever. Sometimes you need to accept short-term solutions until better alternatives are found. Yet the fact remains, to change your circumstances, you need to be prepared.
One consideration is how you handle the difficult situation. If you wish to improve your lot through promotion or reassignment, a few things become important. One of them is loyalty. You need to minimize any public dissension (unless you are sure you will gain support). To those in charge, loyalty is extremely important. You gain allies by being loyal and supportive, especially in public forums. You also need to maintain a positive attitude. This can be easier said than done. Your reputation may be on the line, but a malcontent is not a desired employee. You need to maintain a positive attitude and make sure others perceive that you are a good employee.
There may be other ways to make the change you need in a more direct and confrontational manner. You may have redress in your labor agreement or other local policy. If you have tried everything else, you may have no other option. But beware: You cannot use this tactic very often, and you never know how the other bosses will view this. You see, bosses often side with bosses. If you are perceived to be a troublemaker or malcontent, few will want to take a chance on you. Do what you can to maintain the proper attitude for the job.
Finally, do your job to the best of your ability. Regardless of others’ efforts, you owe it to your organization and yourself to do the best you can. Others are counting on you. If you were a member of a sports team or a musical group, there would be varying levels of talent, commitment, and work ethic. In all these situations, every person is expected to contribute toward making the group better. This is not always easy to do mentally, but you need to develop the mental discipline to do your job and stay focused on your ultimate goals.
RICHARD MARINUCCI has been chief of the Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department since 1984. He was president of the IAFC in 1997-1998 and served as acting chief operating officer of the United States Fire Administration in 1999. He has bachelor’s degrees in secondary education from Western Michigan University, in fire science from Madonna College, and in fire administration from the University of Cincinnati.
