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What is goal-setting? Why is it important for us as firefighters? Yogi Berra gave the classic answer, “If you don’t know where you are going, you might end up someplace else.” As firefighters we should always have personal and professional goals that lead to our moral, mental and...

In part 1, we discussed several items that you should consider when evaluating candidates for the role of fire department public information officer (PIO). As you saw it isn’t easy. Let’s examine a few more considerations to help you round out a good evaluation process. The...

The role of a public information officer (PIO) within your organization must be highly considered within this new age of social media. As the demand for current information rapidly evolves so must you and your organization to these demands. The only way to keep ahead of this and...

A firefighter who is positive, energetic, and driven can become discouraged if he or she is in a constant environment of negativity. This effect is even more dramatic if they are having personal problems at home. In our faith we need to remember that in order for the fires of our...

After being in the fire service for 10 years, I have come to appreciate a very valuable truth: every brother and sister — no matter how new or how tenured — has something to offer that will strengthen the brotherhood. Every firefighter possesses a unique background...

The lifeblood of firefighting is training. It’s where our passion is taken from a raging inferno and channeled like a welding torch. Once chaotic, our lives are now fueled with purpose and direction. It is through training that we’ve become equipped with the tools to...

Dealing with difficult firefighters involves communicating effectively, setting expectations early, and mentoring at all levels. Sometimes, the firefighter being mentored needs guidance if he or she fails to live up to the stated expectations and standards. This is where coaching...

Handling difficult firefighters and situations begins with being an effective communicator. The next step is to set the expectations. This is the most important part of the process. Tip #2 – Setting The Expectations Setting the expectations starts with the indoctrination...

The fire service is a huge family, but sometimes we have to deal with difficult people more often than we would like to. As an instructor, the two most frequently asked questions about leadership to fire officers and firefighters are: “Why is it so hard dealing with difficult...

As a firefighter begins his or her journey, he or she is constantly reading, processing, and committing to memory large amounts of information. The depth of one’s commitment to his calling is not only shown in his knowledge but in his understanding of that knowledge. An incident...