Leadership 101

Is leadership measured by the number of incident responses? Or the number of cardiac arrest resuscitations? Or how many new recruits sign up? The truth is, it’s all of that and so much more… And most of “it” won’t be found on an end-of-year report. Because it usually comes down to who you are, what you say and do when no one is watching, and how you get the job done. Leadership, like most skills, can (and should) be continually developed.

“Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.” Coach Vince Lombardi

Leading would be easy if you could just tell everyone to, “do the right thing”. However, what’s “right” is up to perception—and when your life and the lives of others are continuously at stake, nothing can be left to chance. That’s why it’s critical for leaders to take accountability for their actions, prioritize continuous improvement, institute meaningful changes and lead with integrity—day in and day out.

Take accountability.

Whether you’re a newly-appointed officer or the most-tenured manager on your team, deciding to be a leader can be one of the most difficult parts of the job. But, for the good of your department (including your buddies), it's time to assume the role and take accountability for the future of your team. 

• Invest ten minutes of your time by listening to the Don't Risk It! podcast discussing Risk Control for Mid-Level Managers.

Institute meaningful changes.

Leadership requires a comprehensive risk-mitigation mindset. However, without written policies that address your organization’s ethical and conduct-related expectations, it can be easy for bad habits, careless mistakes and negative behaviors to creep up. So, it’s crucial to ensure you create, continually review and train on governing guidelines, including your:

• Driver Selection
• Progressive Discipline
• Emergency Vehicle Response Guidelines
• Junior Member Program
• Harassment Prevention

Lead with integrity.

To be known as a person with integrity is a great honor—and every first responder deserves to be led by officers who continually demonstrate strong moral principles. So, ask yourself—can you spot “INTEGRITY” in yourself and among the fellow leaders on your team?

• Illustrates strong ethics and values, like honesty, accountability and compassion.
• Nurtures and develops a diverse, accepting and inclusive team.
• Teaches and mentors others—and is personally devoted to being a life-long learner.
• Ensures each team member is equally respected, appreciated and informed.
• Generates future-focused initiatives, while also preserving lessons-learned from the past.  
• Resists conflicts of interest, including those related to finances and decision making.
• Implements policies devoted to health, safety and wellness—and ensures they’re followed.
• Tackles problems head-on and proactively looks for potential hazards and challenges. 
• Yields to constructive criticism and continually seeks feedback from others.

Whether it's your first or tenth year in a leadership role, the fact that you’re here right now shows that you care—and that means something. We believe in you and thank you for the difference you’re making in your organization and community.

SOPs SOGs

• SOG Sample - Vision Statement
• SOG Sample - Mission Statement
• SOG Sample - Ethics Statement
• SOG Sample - Code of Ethics
• SOG Sample - Code of Conduct