Page 28 - UFRA Straight Tip Spring 2023 - Volume 24 Issue 2

LEADERSHIP
Photo courtesy of Roy City Fire Department
Members of the Roy City Fire Department family remembering 9/11 with those gathered at our annual memorial ceremony
SIMPLE RULES
OF CAREER
SURVIVAL
• WhathaveIdonetomakeMYSELFbetter?
• WhathaveIdonetomakemySHIFTbetter?
• WhathaveIdonetomakemyDEPARTMENTbetter?
I am going to cover some well-known principles that I have used and continue to use in my career. Some of these are easy to implement and others take work and/or study to develop or improve upon. I ask that you view your career as a lifelong learning event and treat others as you would want to be treated. In other words, follow the Golden Rule.
We are FAMILY! Sometimes we are a dysfunctional family, but we are still a family. Treat everyone like family and expect the same. Watch out for each other. Pick people up when they are down, dust them off, and help them get back on track. Basically, we can help others become bet- ter—and by doing so, we can become better ourselves.
What is your ETHOS? Or better yet, what does that mean? It is more than knowing what is right and what is wrong. We should know where our line in the sand is before we ever get to the line. I say that because you will have times in your career when you will experience
or witness unethical actions and behavior. Decide now where your line is and decide now that you will not cross that line. That can be dealing with bullies, hazing situations, or times the group is doing something that is wrong and may not realize it until it is too late for someone. This is when you must be the one that says, “I will not cross that line.” Be the person that lifts others up and makes them better, not the one that low- ers your bar or crosses your line.
HUMILITY is a trait that is very important to your career. You will always be learning or seeing things that are new. Stay humble and treat with respect those you come in contact with. This is hard for firefighters sometimes and maybe even harder for paramedics. Mac Davis sang, “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.” It is true that we have a cool job and get to do some cool things, but remember to stay humble. Those citizens we respond to and help are having a bad day. Being humble gives us the perspective of where we came from and helps us see that we can help others when they are at their worst.
There is nothing more powerful than a humble person with a servant’s heart. Remember, you are a SERVANT. I wish chiefs would understand that they’re not in charge, but are responsible for those in their charge. That means whenever everything goes right, you have to give away
the credit, and whenever everything goes wrong, you have to take all
of the responsibility. Being a servant leader requires you to focus your attention away from yourself and put the spotlight on your employees by growing and empowering them first. Robert K. Greenleaf coined the phrase “servant leadership.” He “observed that leaders with a servant mindset got the best out of their employees; they were more motivated, inspired, creative, and productive, which led to excellent business results. It’s the foundational attitude of leadership: it’s not about you; it’s all about the people you serve and helping them become the absolute best version of themselves.”1
The sooner you learn that rank means absolutely nothing when it comes to serving others, the sooner you can be on your way to impacting peoples’ lives for the better. Once you get your mind and heart set on
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