Co Flashcards
The company officer performs many functions including, but not limited to
-Providing leader ship
-Acting as a role model
-Giving advice
-Evaluating Firefighters performance
-Providing representation for members to the administration
-Seeking to resolve interpersonal conflicts
-Providing counseling, coaching, or discipline when necessary
-Directing the work and ensuring operational readiness
-providing company level training
The company officers most important task
Is to ensure personnel safety
A new officer is challenged to learn, apply, and model the following
Leadership
Ethics
Supervision
Responsibility
Authority
This manual addresses fire officer level I and level II while IFSTA’s chief officer manual contains information that applies to level III and level IV fire officers. the categories of duties for all levels, as listed in NFPA 1021 are
-community and government relations
-administration
-inspection and investigation
-emergency service delivery
-health and safety
Those who deliver services to the public or external customers typical functions include fire suppression, emergency medical services, inspections, education, and investigations
Line personnel
Those who provide support to the line personnel and internal or external customers typical functions are training, logistics, auxiliary organizations, and personnel administration
Staff personnel
Decisions are made by one person at the top of the structure. This model works well in very small organizations, such as an individual fire company.
Centralized authority
Decisions are made at a lower level with the effects of the decisions reported through the structure. To work effectively the chief must ensure that all members understand the organizations direction, values, and goals. Decision making authority should be delegated to the lowest level possible.
Decentralized authority
When assigning a task, the company officer should
-Describe the task and its relationship to the overall goal or objective
-provide support for a successful outcome
-Identify time and safety constraints that apply to the assignment
-Follow up on assigned tasks
When a subordinate _____ the immediate supervisor and takes a problem to a higher officer, the unity of command is broken. While it’s sometimes necessary for a subordinate to do this, it is generally an attempt to circumvent the chain of command
Sidesteps
Within each work assignment group, sub groups are assigned to complete specific tasks. Work groups may be created according to
-Type of task
-Geographical area
-Time of year or season
-Available resources
-Skills specialization
Fire and emergency services organizations follow certain basic principles of organizational structure. Based on organizational theory, research, and practice in both public and private organizations, these principles include
-scalar structure
-line and staff personnel
-decision making authority
-unity of command
-span of control
-division of labor
To achieve command presence, it may be helpful to model or develop the following qualities
Self-confidence
Trustworthiness
Consistency
Responsibility
Tolerance/acceptance
Expertise
Accountability
In addition to demonstrating these qualities, leaders can take the following eight steps to develop a command presence
Step1: determine what the situation is
Step2: Know what resources are available to apply to the situation
Step3: Develop the strategy and tactics required to resolve the situation
Step4: listen to all points of view, when appropriate
Step5: Make the decision
Step6: Implement the decision
Step7: Evaluate the decision and modify as necessary
Step8: take responsibility for the decision
Employees are initially uncertain of their roles in the group. They are not certain that they can trust or work with the other members. As relationships grow, trust and respect develop. Members begin to see themselves as part of the group and become enthusiastic about the challenges of a new project or task. This phase is critical within the team development process and one in which a company officer can have a significant effect
Forming
Conflict may result as members compete for a position of informal leader ship or attempt to exert their personal influence over the group. The leader is supportive in this stage. He or she actively listens to members and provides explanations for decisions. The most critical aspect of successful team development is to reduce the amount of time the group spends in the ______ phase
Storming
The group establishes and adheres to its own set of norms and values. Members become closer and more cohesive. The company officer again must be aware of team norms and values as much as possible to make sure that those norms don’t violate the sense of decency. The leader transitions into the role of a peer, allowing other team members to share leadership responsibilities
Norming
The supervisor works to maintain team spirits as the group accomplishes its objectives. At this stage, the group is a true team with all members sharing leader ship
Performing
skills that contribute to an individual’s overall level of emotional intelligence
-leaderships skills (social awareness, empathy, decision-making)
-self management skills (time management, drive strength, and commitment ethic)
-intrapersonal skills (self esteem and stress management)
-interpersonal skills (assertion, anger management, and anxiety management)
ELS process steps
A- self assessment: explore
B- self awareness: identify
C- self knowledge: understand
D- self development: learn
E- self improvement: apply and match
EI skills that contribute to effective leadership
-social awareness
-empathy
-decisions making
-positive influence
