Looking for the “I” in Team

Here is an experiment every Fire Department should try at their next departmental meeting.  Prepare two separate organizational charts, with one showing just the Administrative Division, and the other showing just Suppression & Rescue and Emergency Medical Service Divisions.  Put the charts up on an overhead projector or a Power Point display, and then let the group try to figure out what you’re up to!  After the group has had it’s fun with this, pose the question, “If the City, County, Fire District, community, etc. had to chose between these two org charts, which one would they need to keep.”  While the answer may be obvious on the surface, this exercise raises some very valid points.

main purpose of the exercise is to get EVERYONE thinking.  It will also serve to let the first responders and line personnel know that the administration recognizes and values both their daily efforts and their importance to the organization.   Believe it or not, the first responders, the “troops”, need to know that their dedication to the organization is appreciated.  It also points out something that we all need to be reminded of once in a while, that we really are interdependent on one another for success. The cold hard fact is that there is no need for administrators if there are no first responders to administer to, a fact that may escape some administrators!   It is equally important to understand that a Fire Department without a Fire Chief, no Chief Officers and no administrative staff personnel will leave the line personnel at extreme risk.  Who will provide the support functions for the primary mission?  Will the Fire Department fall under the management of the Police Department?  Will there be a Public Safety Director (and that’s usually someone from the Police Department), or will you be directly managed by the Mayor’s or City Manager’s Office?  In any of these scenarios, who will insure that the first responders in the field are getting the support they need to do their jobs effectively?  Anyone who has ever attended budget hearings know that if the organization is managed by an entity with no background at all in the work that must be accomplished, it is a sure guarantee that the resources and funding the organization requires will eventually decline.

The work of any fire department is accomplished by the first responders that are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  Chief Officers not only have the responsibility to set the direction of the organization, but just as important, they exist to provide the support to the first responders, to assure that they can provide service to the community at the highest level, a level that most of our citizens have come to expect of us.

Hopefully, this exercise reminds us of one the basic reasons we chose this career.  Everything a fire department does, from the command staff to emergency response units, is accomplished by teamwork.  Teamwork does not stop when we get promoted.  All emergency work is predicated on teamwork, so the responsibility of supporting the first response effort should reflect that same concept.  Teamwork is at the core of everything we do!  Most effective officers can both provide leadership and remain part of the team.  Staying true to the team aspect develops good working relationships and is essential to problem solving, which is something else we do every day.  As discussed above, Chief Officers exist to insure the organization is running efficiently and the citizens are being served at the highest level.  This is accomplished when the first line troops are provided with the resources they need.

If we look at any endeavor that is running effectively, there is good teamwork, two-way communications and the feeling that each entity’s voice is being heard.  Problems are solved at the lowest possible level and reported through the chain of command.  General orders are published and the rationale further explained in meetings.  Decisions that affect the organization’s operations are made public and openly discussed.  That doesn’t always mean we will agree with the decisions, but at least we have the information and the reason “why”.

Another lesson here is that as your career in the fire service progresses, learn about leadership from what you observe.  There is as much to learn from bad examples as good ones, because now you know what NOT to do!  Remember that we all started out as Firefighters, and what at you desired from leadership at that point in your career is what you should emulate when you are in a leadership position.  Remain in touch with your personnel, be approachable, and to throw in some advice from the “olden days” of the Fire Service, “Be fair firm and friendly!”

Obviously, there is no “I” in “team”, but there is one in inspired leadership, Inclusive problem solving and Integration of administrative actions and decision making with the first responders needs.  If you feel your team does have an “I” in it that may be the biggest problem your organization is facing.  Remember, there is no “smartest person in the room” when an organization is working together.  We all have a vested interest in the effectiveness and the reputation of our own organization and ultimately, the overall Fire Service.  Even us old retired guys care about what happens in the modern fire service, as most of us still feel privileged to have had such a rewarding career.  Never forget that we are truly all on the same team, and the greatest honor any Chief Officer ever has comes from the excellence and the actions of the people that make up the organization.