Successfully transitioning into the ranks of battalion chiefs requires personal patience and reliance on tidbits of wisdom from those who have already walked down that road. While it might seem like many of the basics won’t change as you fulfill your role as a firefighter, the demands on your leadership and decision-making skills will significantly impact how smoothly your unit will operate and how well the other members are going to work together.
Battalion chiefs can set the tone from the first moments they arrive at the station and pay attention to these tips.
1. Avoid Starting in the Kitchen
Upon your arrival as new chief, don’t head to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee and hang out with the crew for the latest gossip or updates. Find the chief who you are relieving and get all the information you can about what is going on. You need the good, the bad, and the ugly. Know the complaints and problems and find out about the personnel you will be working with. Get the scoop from official channels before you walk into a hornet’s nest in the kitchen.
2. Let Your Teams Be Creative
As you work to make your station more efficient and safer, encourage creativity throughout the ranks. Let company officers know it is okay for their people to make suggestions or brainstorm new ways to be more effective on the job. Don’t rewrite the safety manuals or go against industry best practices, but a fresh new look can reduce the risk of strain on equipment or injury to the unit members.
3. Stand Firm Supported by Facts
You won’t win every battle on the fireground or inside the firehouse. You will struggle with the different personalities within the firehouse, just like you will fight against different types of blazes and conditions. Use careful observation to determine your course of action but root your position in facts. Never accept a partial story. Always know who and what you are dealing with before attempting to set the record straight.
4. Don’t Be a Suggestion Box
When you are on the scene of a fire, don’t be a sounding board for a variety of tactics or strategies to combat the blaze. Let your companies have a minute to assess the scene and get comfortable, but make sure you are giving clear orders and demonstrate a full command of all the operations. If things are working smoothly and the companies have been properly deployed, you can let the officers govern their sections. Stay calm and supportive, but never relinquish control.
Your transition will involve a lot of changes, but it shouldn’t take away your passion for the work. Under the right leadership, your station will thrive, your company will develop more experience and camaraderie, and you will continue to save lives around your community.
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