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I haven’t always looked for (or had to look for) ways to charge my batteries as a firefighter and fire officer.  In fact, sometimes I did not realize my batteries needed charging.  More often than not, what re-charged me was something that occurred that took me to a new place, opened a new world of possibilities, or introduced me to new and motivated colleagues.  As time went on, I realized that keeping your batteries charged is essential in this business.

I have been fortunate to be exposed to a plethora of ways to recharge one’s batteries.  Here are a few examples that I have found useful:

• Surround yourself with people who move and shake – people who are always trying to better themselves and the job. This is contagious and a tough train to slow down.
• To keep the hunger inside yourself, seek the hunger in your people. It is not hard to see this when you are looking for it.  Especially as a department leader, people will display this right in front of you.  Do not discourage it.  If it is off-base a little, look to align it with the goals of the department which will serve to feed and properly channel that hunger in that individual or group. 
• Delegation – give the gift of imperfection. Unleash those with charged batteries to do good for both themselves and for the department.  Delegation is one of those ways to not only maintain a charge in others, but to charge yourself.  Remember that what you delegate will not necessarily be the way you would have done it (or even as good as you would have done it); In fact, that is the reason most people don’t delegate – no one can do it better.  Bad move!!  Understanding of the gift of imperfection is critical in that most of your charged-up subordinates will surprise you with how well they can do (maybe just as good as you or better) and that will give you an opportunity to give them an “Atta boy!” – a surefire way to maintain their charge.
• Display creative Full Contact leadership. Create battery-charging opportunities for your subordinates.  Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities.  Size up. Mentor. Recognize effort.  Repeat.
• Again, recognize opportunities. Friendly competition is one way.  In North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue, my shift launched a shift-wide competition called the “Knot Gauntlet”.  The competition played out over a three-month period and took on a life of its own.  Spying, rumor, bravado, chirping and chest-thumping all became part of this motivation-in-action competition. Each Battalion determined a winner who then competed on the Championship Day for this one-of-a-kind, no expense-spared plaque.  The Knot Gauntlet was an example of battery-charging in action. The competition reinforced rope rescue skills, team-building, and esprit de corps while at the same time creating an environment of mentoring, learning, and skill advancement (Photo by Anthony Avillo)
• Avoid and Neutralize Battery Killers – “Gang” mentality where moving the organization forward is viewed as a non-goal…the move is to recognize this informal group and use it to your advantage through involvement, timely communication, and full contact leadership. Other battery killers include apathy, status quo mindset, inconsistency, toxic environments (and we are not talking IDLH here!), and a false sense of one’s own competence.  I would rather deal with the well-intentioned unqualified any day than the ill-intentioned qualified!  At least their batteries are chargeable (and charge-worthy).