Photo by Steve Baer | FireDog Photos
Bill Heffernan is a retired West Haven Fire Department lieutenant, longtime department historian, former technical adviser and consulting producer forthe hit comedyTacoma FD, and cousin ofTacoma FD actor Kevin Heffernan.He now serves as a Connecticut state representative. His blend of frontline experience, historical insight, and behind‑the‑scenes perspective fuelsOff the Record with Cousin Bill Heffernan, where he answers your questions biweekly.
Q: What can a non-manager do to boost the morale of their peers when the “higher-ups” are out of touch?
A: When the higher-ups are out of touch, that is a problem unto itself. Sometimes that needs to be addressed first. As a lieutenant, I was still “one of the guys” to a certain extent, but there was a fine line there. I had a foot in both worlds. That is what makes being a lieutenant so difficult at times. It’s that fine line.
You need to cultivate your senior man or men, as the case may be. (That term is gender neutral in this forum.) Many times, it’s easier to get the point across peer-to-peer. A good senior man can turn a crew around with a few well-placed suggestions or comments. He or she can also approach their officer and have a heart-to-heart about whatever issues they think might be “out of touch.” It’s easy to fall into the trap of, “Everything is OK; it’s how we always do it.”
That type of thinking is more common than we like to admit. It’s also fair to say that, especially in these modern times, the shift commander can get bogged down with paperwork and many other tasks and responsibilities. This can put them “out of touch,” or more likely, unaware of issues quietly simmering in the crew. Just bringing these issues to their attention can many times solve the problem.
