When fire service leaders self-serve and forget their roots, the fallout reaches far beyond the station walls

Amnesia is a chronic condition many fire service leaders suffer from, but it frequently goes undiagnosed. Often, symptoms become heightened as the individual progresses through the ranks. Signs that members of your management team could be suffering from leadership amnesia may include:

  • Forgetting where they came from
  • Overlooking the golden rule
  • Choosing the easy way for themselves over the good for the order
  • Avoiding feedback/constructive criticism
  • The belief that more power equates to more knowledge

We all want to be treated kindly and with respect. The fire service is a calling, not just a job, and the stakes are more real than 99% of the other professions out there. When our leaders forget where they came from and make selfish decisions, the ripple effects can impact that generation’s morale and mental health. This type of disposition can turn a loyal and passionate employee into a disgruntled employee who feels underappreciated. The resulting toxicity encourages employees to quietly quit or walk/run away from this type of environment.

Organizational betrayal can also be a major blow to the mental status of the subordinates. Your employees should have a reasonable expectation that their workplace is going to take care of them throughout their employment. When the employee can no longer trust their employer, this situation can manifest into a myriad of problems, including burnout, depression, anxiety, ideation, compassion fatigue, mailing it in, and looking for greener grass elsewhere. Leaders must realize that while they control decisions within the workplace, their decisions may also negatively impact their employees’ home lives.

Here are recommendations on how leaders can combat this type of amnesia:

  • Live by the golden rule – Treat others how you want to be treated
  • Remember your roots – Being able to reflect on your personal experiences will help you view items from your members’ perspective
  • Welcome open communication – Employees should be able to be open and honest without fear of retribution
  • Show empathy – Your employees need to know there is still a human being somewhere in there

A good fire service leader must realize that the way they treat junior employees will shape the future of the organization when the next generation steps into leadership.