How do you carry yourself at the firehouse? There seems to be a constant struggle between those who are dedicated to the service and those who are dedicated only to the t-shirts they wear and the notoriety that comes with it. The dedicated professionals, both paid and volunteers, enjoy learning and have a great passion for helping others. There are members that are volunteers because they enjoy learning and have a passion for helping others. As a result, these same men and women enhance the positive values and reputation of their respective department. However, a few bad members can ruin the hard work built by past and current fire service professionals.
There will always be sour apples in every organization—it is a part of life. But how you conduct yourself and how you react is what will set you and your department apart from other organizations. Integrity, honesty, and credibility are some of the most important characteristics needed by the men and women who represent this great profession. When these types of traits are omnipresent in the fire service, it breeds a perpetual cycle of goodness—in essence, we plant good seeds (new members) in good soil (fire stations).
The firehouse culture is a unique dynamic that is built on many variables that can influence how the department as an entity is perceived. If the department has a standing tradition of working hard and playing hard using a set standard, it becomes infectious.
Turning the tide of your department’s culture begins with you! To be an efficient leader and asset, you must be able to listen and take in a variety of different information. One person can truly make a difference in a company. He or she may be the instigator that infects the rest of the group with the positive attitude, which creates the change that leads to the revitalization of other members and the station. A vital element of self-development is to be humble and honest with yourself. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses will allow you to further develop as a person and as a firefighter. The most important component of this process is to constantly reevaluate the ideas and methods of implementation to maintain credible efficiency. Last, seeking feedback from others in regarding your character traits is equally important.