• Home
  • About FFTB
    • The Mission
    • Start Here
    • Disclaimer
  • The Team
    • Contributors
    • Photo Contributors
    • Guest Contributors
    • The Original Crew
  • Contact
facebook
twitter
youtube
google_plus
email
  • Start Here
  • PODCAST
    • About The Podcast
    • Podcast Episode Pages
    • Podcast on iTunes
    • Podcast Official Sponsors
    • Podcast Sponsorship
  • 5 Min Clinics
    • 5 Minute Engine Co Clinic
    • 5 Minute Truck Co Clinic
    • 5 Minute Officer Clinic
    • 5 Minute Clinic Series
  • Product Reviews
  • Articles
    • Eng Co
    • Truck Co
    • Co Officer
    • Safety & FF Rescue
    • General
      • Social Media/ Public Relations
      • FF Communications
      • Art & Science of Firefighting
      • Life Skills
      • Hazardous Materials
      • Rescue Operations
      • Special Operations
        • Marine Operations
        • Airport Fire & Rescue Operations
  • Health & Fitness
  • FF Mindset
BREAKING NEWS
3 Rule Outs of the Medical Patient
“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 2
“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 1
Keys to Conducting Comprehensive Feedback to Firefighters
3 Keys to Truck Check Success
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 3
PWR Training Sandbag – Product Review
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 2
3 Ways Firefighters can Reduce the Chance of a Back Injury
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 1
Practice How You Play
How to Execute the Proper Kettlebell Swing
What Every Firefighter Needs to Know About NFPA 1583
5 Exercises to Improve Grip Strength for Firefighters
6 Ways Firefighters can Use Exercise Progressions and Regressions
3 Workout Tips for the Volunteer Firefighter
074 – Introduction to Firefighter Functional Fitness
Firefighter Functional Fitness – 7 Tips for Planning Weekly Workouts
The 3 Cornerstones of Firefighter Fitness Success
8 Must-Do Exercises for Serious Firefighter Functional Fitness

Fire Service Leadership Continuum – Part 1

Posted On 29 Nov 2013
By : Robert Simmons
Comments: 5
Tag: leadership and development, officer development

I believe fire service leadership is a continuous process that can be broken into four distinct steps. These steps are represented in what I call the “Fire Service Leadership Continuum.”

image

The Four Steps

#1 – Becoming A Leader

This is the step that is the beginning of your development as a leader. In this step, you must follow before you can lead. This is where you begin to develop your skills and follow your leaders. Through this process you will begin to learn what being a leader is all about.

#2 – Moving Into The Position

At this point in the continuum, you have become the leader and are now moving into a leadership position. This can often be the toughest step in the continuum. At this point, you will often be asked to lead men and women who were previously your peers. This can be a difficult transition, but this is the point at which you establish yourself as a leader. You must inform your team what you expect of them and what they can expect of you. This step must be handled with confidence, tact, and professionalism. At this point, it is vital that you establish the line between business and friendship for both you and your crew.

#3 – Being The Leader

After you have established yourself as a leader, you have to lead your people. This step in the continuum requires a significant amount of work. You have to follow through on holding your team up to the standards you and your department have established. Furthermore, you must hold yourself to the standards your team and you have established for yourself. This is where you set the example for others to follow.

#4 – Growing Future Leaders

John C. Maxwell, a famous leadership author and speaker, has often said that a leader can have the greatest impact on an organization by helping other leaders succeed. As a leader, you should know and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each firefighter on your crew.

Leadership/Development Simmons

“The Fire Service Leadership Continuum” – Follow these four steps to work toward becoming a better officer and more effective leader.

It is part of your job to foster their strengths and help them overcome their weaknesses. This is the point at which you prepare others to take your place and continue the process after you move to higher levels of responsibility. The legacy you leave behind will speak volumes about the quality of leader you are. You want to ensure that those who come after you are prepared to continue the work you started.

The link between each step in the continuum is feedback. Constant 360 degree feedback is vital to your success as both a firefighter and a leader. 360 degree feedback is feedback that comes from all directions. You should seek feedback from supervisors, subordinates, and peers alike. Combined with self-evaluation, this will give you the most complete picture of where you stand and what you need to improve upon.

These steps all work in concert to propel us into to leadership roles. In this series of articles we will discuss each step and how you can apply the principles of them to your career.

If you are a firefighter looking to become an officer or an officer looking to become a chief, this is for you!

Photos courtesy of and copyrighted by Robert Simmons.

Find the complete series here!

Part 1: Introducing the Fire Service Leadership Continuum
Part 2: Becoming A Leader (The Pillars)
Part 3: Moving Into The Position
Part 4: Being The Leader
Part 5: Growing Future Leaders
Part 6: 360 Feedback (Putting It All Together)

About the Author
Robert C. Simmons is a 14 year veteran of the fire service, and he currently serves as an Assistant Chief in the U.S. Army Garrison Red Cloud Fire Department, South Korea where he manages the training division. Originally from AL, he has served as firefighter around the globe. Robert was deployed to Iraq in 2003 and served as a firefighter during the initial invasion of Iraq. After leaving the Army, he became a DoD civilian firefighter where he remains today. He has received numerous awards during his service, most notably the 2004 Department of the Army Firefighter Heroism Award for unit actions taken during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Chief Siimmons is a DoD certified Fire Instructor III and has a passion for organizational leadership and developing the fire service leaders of tomorrow.
  • google-share
Previous Story

The Fire Service Leader – What Can We Learn From The Army?

Next Story

Building Blocks For Leadership Success

Related Posts

073 - The 3U Method for Firefighters and Leaders - FFTB Frontpage Thumbnail
0

073 – The 3U Method for Firefighters and Leaders

Posted On 31 May 2016
, By David J Soler
2

I’m Not a Bad Fire Service Leader…Am I?

Posted On 09 Feb 2016
, By Benjamin Martin
0

072 – 3 Habits of Great Firefighters and Leaders

Posted On 02 Feb 2016
, By David J Soler
5

3 Must Have Leadership Skills In The Fire Station

Posted On 25 Apr 2014
, By John Dixon
8

Fire Service Leadership Continuum – Part 5

Posted On 18 Apr 2014
, By Robert Simmons
2

Own It!

Posted On 10 Apr 2014
, By Christian Adams

5 Comments

  1. Pingback: Fire Service Leadership Continuum: Part 2 | FireFighterToolBox

  2. Pingback: Fire Service Leadership Continuum: Part 2- The Pillars | FireFighterToolBox

  3. Pingback: Fire Service Leadership Continuum: Moving Into The Position – Part 3 | FireFighterToolBox

  4. Pingback: Fire Service Leadership Continuum – Being The Leader: Part 4 | FireFighterToolBox

  5. Pingback: Fire Service Leadership Continuum – Part 5 | FireFighterToolBox

Search Site

Archives

DOWNLOAD FREE REPORT

Popular Posts

FirefighterToolbox Podcast

FireFighterToolbox Podcast (Internet Radio Interview Show)

48 Comments

Top 6 Reasons To Use A 2-1/2" Handline

29 Comments

The Role Of The Second Due Engine - Part 2

18 Comments
Copyright 2013-2017 FirefighterToolbox.com All Rights Reserved.