Ch 1 Excellence FD Leadership

Question 1

Four organizational anchors

Answer 1

• Clearly defined MISSION and clear customer expectations
• Shared organizational VALUES
• Well managed financial RESOURCES
• Appropriate levels of TRAINING, organizational policies, realistic and complete SOP‘s, and definitive strategic and operational plans

(MVRT)

Question 2

What are the three line elements of the system or the “legs”?

Answer 2

• Fire prevention
• Public education
• Emergency
  response/homeland
  security

Question 3

What are the four Staff elements (or Support elements) of the system?

Answer 3

• Training and preparation
• member and system
  Support
• Partnerships,
  relationships, and
  politics
• Infrastructure and
  equipment

(TSPI)

Question 4

Maslow‘s hierarchy, and the different levels (incorporating Herzberg two-factor theory)

Answer 4

Top to Bottom
- Self-actualization
(becoming all one can
become, maximum
potential)
- Esteem/power
(prestige, self-
confidence)

These top 2 are Herzberg motivational needs
Top 2 are also the “ true motivators”

• Affiliation, love &
  acceptance
  (interpersonal
  interaction)
• Security/safety
  (lack of danger, job
  security)
• Physiological (food,
  shelter, clothing)

These bottom 3 make up Herzberg maintenance needs

Question 5

The stool is made from the most important resource in the organization

Answer 5

The people

Question 6

This determines the basic strength of the stool

Answer 6

Peoples ABilities (Abs are strong)

Question 7

The stool must be made of a substance that is strong enough to support the entire weight of the mission and this requires:

Answer 7

Able, well-led people

Question 8

What three descriptors are key to a fire service leader’s success?

Answer 8

• Capability
• Flexibility
• Adaptability

Question 9

______ is measured based on a persons words and behavior as they carry out their personal and organizational responsibilities and commitments

Answer 9

Ethics

Question 10

There is not a more important measurement of effective leadership in the workplace than ____. The way the workforce and management interact has a direct impact on the quality of the service or product and thus on the organization’s bottom line.

Answer 10

Employee relations

Question 11

The _____ sets the tone for the way people inside the system view their ROLES, the ROLES of others, the focus of their collective efforts, and how they each individually FIT into the overall picture

Answer 11

The structure of the organization

Question 12

Two key elements of any positive, constructive relationship are:

Answer 12

Level of Trust and Respect that exists between the people involved in the relationship

Question 13

Primary reason fire department leaders exist: (2)

Answer 13

1) GUIDE delivery of services to external customers
2) SUPPORT those who are in place internally to deliver that service

Question 14

When discussing a leader’s role in DIFFERENT settings, this is a key element of that person’s success

Answer 14

The versatility required to lead or to follow

Question 15

Leaders must pass along their knowledge, as well as teach, mentor and coach. One of the leader’s primary goals is to motivate and inspire each member so:

Answer 15

They perform with minimal supervision or interference

Question 16

The definition listed below describes which of Edward’s factors of a positive environment:

• Foster awareness of the differences in people and situations. Active efforts to ensure inclusion of people of all races, sex, and cultures are welcomed and appreciated.

Answer 16

Sensitivity

(Sensitive topic - race, sex, etc)

Question 17

The definition listed below describes which of Edward’s factors of a positive environment:

Ensure that access to training and career opportunities, promotions, and employment are based on job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities. The principles of equity should guide all actions.

Answer 17

Fairness

Question 18

Edwards believes that a key to fire service leadership is the understanding and utilization of what five basic skills? (EDDWC)

Answer 18

• EMPOWER others
• DEVELOP others
• Value DIVERSITY
• WORK for change
• COMMUNICATE
  responsibility

Question 19

The (organizational) anchors keep the individual members from operating without focus and provide necessary direction and expectations. The anchors define which perimeter of the circle?

Answer 19

Outer

Question 20

The leader’s role in regards to the organizational anchors is to what?

Answer 20

Keep people in the circle

Question 21

Leaders must be willing to do what three things on a regular basis to help employees stay in the circle.

Answer 21

• Coach
• Counsel
• Nudge

Question 22

Bad financial decisions almost never a ___ problem. They usually last as long as __ in duration, and have lasted as long as __, and even longer.

Answer 22

• 1 year
• 3 years
• 5 years

Question 23

Some of the common disadvantages that surface by operating in a strict hierarchy, include

Answer 23

• Focusing on primarily TOP-DOWN communications
• Creating RIGID organizational lines within which territorialism prevails in many decisions
• LACK of team orientation and a blurred organizational focus that can result in excessive competition
• an unspoken understanding that boxes on the organizational structure translate to STATUS or stature
• an organizational climate could be created that leaves the impression that the resources of the organization, are in place to serve the people in the top boxes of the structure, rather than to deliver services or products to the internal and external customers

Question 24

How often should a standard hierarchal structure be used to direct work?

Answer 24

It should be the exception. Standard only in times of crisis. People perform more effectively when they are guiding and supporting the mission

Question 25

Difference in organizational structure versus operational structure?

Answer 25

Organizational
- Defines supporting relationships and chain of command
- Clarifies areas of control
- Identifies divisions and sections
- Align areas of work and responsibility

Operational
- We operate on a day-to-day basis
- Communicates a supportive environment, rather than one based upon hierarchy, authority, or control
- customer service and making the members successful as possible
- Creating a partnership
- Improving organizational communications by causing multi- directional routes of communicating
- Making it easier for members to get ideas and issues into the system
- workforce is empowered to make decisions

Question 26

What are three of the critical benefits to the leader who masters the operational structure?

Answer 26

1) implementing changes more readily
2) creating an atmosphere of organizational focus and individual empowerment
3) opening lines of communication

Question 27

What sets the tone for how the people within the organization interact with customers AND each other IRRESPECTIVE of stature, rank or role within the system?

Answer 27

Organizational and operational structures

Question 28

Fire service leaders are responsible for building a community infrastructure that is directed towards what? (6)

Answer 28

• preventing the worst day of someone’s life from occurring
• Teaching people how to prevent their worst day or suggesting actions they might take should the worst day occur
• Building an emergency response component designed to provide fast, skillful and caring service
• Building support systems, internal and external designed around maintaining quality service delivery programs
• Developing positive relationships
• Providing the human and physical resources that are required to deliver the mission

Question 29

When referring to the three legged stool, this is reflected in the peoples individual and collective levels of commitment, competence, ethics, diversity, and compassion for the external customer?

Answer 29

The quality of the material from which the stool is made

Question 30

(Stool) Built in protection, such as automatic fire sprinklers, is also a key to protecting life and property, as well as?

Answer 30

Maintaining the economic stability of communities and the nation

Question 31

These are most effective when they’re based on leadership that results in building community coalitions, and does not rely solely on the fire department for its success

Answer 31

Public education programs

Question 32

This is critical to meeting the daily requirements of the external and internal customers, and to a large extent, drives the organizations ability to change and develop

Answer 32

The level of training

Question 33

When discussing the staff or support elements of the system, adequate support from the standpoint of _____ is critical to the systems STABILITY and effectiveness.

Answer 33

Basic human resource management

Question 34

This single component of the stool impacts the strength and stability (the effectiveness) of the other legs and braces as much as any other single factor and is a key leadership issue

Answer 34

member and system Support

Stability = Support

TSPI

Question 35

Leaders that consistently struggle with this usually struggle with other basic areas of management and leadership as well

Answer 35

Politics

Question 36

The inability or unwillingness of leaders to translate this concept into action undermines their ability to lead others perhaps more than any other factor

Answer 36

Leadership by example

Question 37

What is a key element of effective leadership?

Answer 37

Ability to inspire people by creating an environment that others find motivating and stimulating

Question 38

What defines expectations, provides clarity, and keeps the group focused and moving forward together?

Answer 38

Providing organizational anchors

Question 39

There is not a more important measurement of effective leadership in the workplace and employee relations. What has a direct impact on the quality of the service or product, and thus, on the organizations bottom line?

Answer 39

The way the workforce and management interact

Question 40

Most people perform more effectively when resources are formed into this model that is intended to guide and support the mission, thus focusing the leadership, management, and resources on the customers

Answer 40

Operational model

Question 41

One of the ARTS of leading a fire department, or for that matter any organization, is coming to the realization that:

Answer 41

Everything in the system is connected to everything else

(Art=drawing connect the dots)

Question 42

What does the stool I-llustrate?

Answer 42

the overall INVESTMENT a community must make to the fire and life safety mission of their fire department

Question 43

This represents A SYSTEM designed to help leaders build and maintain the fire and life safety infrastructure of a community

Answer 43

The stool

Question 44

Leaders must provide appropriate direction to a workforce in a way that encourages innovation, empowerment, and change, while at the same time, ensuring that the necessary results are achieved. What term helps accomplish this and defines expectations, provide clarity, and keep the group focus and moving forward together.

Answer 44

Organizational Anchors

Question 45

In Edwards fire service personnel management, which factor for a positive environment is defined as:

Demand a work environment in which employees are treated with dignity and respect, free from mistreatment, harassment, such as unwelcome remarks, jokes, sexual innuendo, and the like.

Answer 45

Respect

Question 46

As fire service leaders, the ____ of the stool is a primary responsibility?

Answer 46

The structural integrity

Question 47

The way one feels about one’s self as well as how one views one’s character is important to effective leadership. What is key to a persons ability to effectively lead others?

Answer 47

Personal leadership