Who is The Next Fire Service Leader?

I am going to answer your question with a question if you don’t mind…Does it only have to be one “Leader”?

OK. I’ll admit it: I AM.

I am ONE OF THE next fire service leaders, and I’d like to think that I have been for a while, and if only for a very small part.

I don’t say that in a pompous sense nor do I take the term lightly, for those who are pushing the fire service forward in tactics, strategies, command, human relations, safety, even social media, organizational management and of course – leadership – should already consider themselves as fire service leaders.

Some would argue that if you don’t think like a leader, if you don’t think you’re a leader – you’re probably not leading. But we also know that there are both formal and informal leaders, much of which has nothing to do with rank, title or even years of experience. Don’t think so? Take a good, hard look at the “twenty-something’s” leading in today’s military.

Don’t sell yourself short Rhett (no pun intended – honest). You too are ONE OF THE next fire service leaders for the impact you’re making on spreading the message on the value of “spreading the message” via blogging, podcasting, social media and other means.

When we talk about our perceptions that the next generation of firefighters doesn’t share our values, traditions and/or work ethic, I first ask: Whose fault is that?

If we believe that those perceptions are reality – then I take my fair share of responsibility in admitting that I’ve failed either as a parent, a community leader or a fire service leader.

Just like in baseball, you don’t need to be the home-run king just to be considered a leader. There are other stats we look for, and quite often, it’s a combination of stats, attributes and accomplishments that gives them that distinction.

So in the fire service, those who are focused on perpetuating our values and traditions and those who are focused on training the “next fire service leader” – they are already leaders, whether they care to admit it or not.

The current state of the fire service is dependent, in part, on the combined impact of the leaders serving within it today. And, as has happened with the natural evolution of previous generations, the big name “all-star” leaders will rise to the top of the charts – but only first as a result of their impact on other fire service leaders and followers – and deservedly so.

Inasmuch as we are all individuals, we each seek out different leaders and different leadership styles that motivate us most. But they hold that esteemed position in our hearts and minds partly because they embody and represent our overall perception of good leadership, which actually is quite often a composite of different leadership skills and qualities that we recognize in a cross-section of various other fire service leaders. However, their impact on us is diminished nonetheless.

I’ve written before that there are two types of people in the world: consumers and contributors. Being a contributor is the first step to being ONE OF the next fire service leaders.

Being a fire service leader, and especially an “all-star” fire service leader, comes with both privilege and responsibility. The privilege is the opportunity to share your thoughts and experiences with a larger audience, to have greater impact. The responsibility is to contribute on a higher level.

Thanks for contributing. Thanks for leading this conversation. Thanks for being ONE OF the next fire service leaders.