Company Officer Flashcards
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The company officer performs the following 6 functions:
- Provides leadership
- Acts as role model
- Gives advice
- Provides representation for members to administration
- Negotiates conflicts
- Applies counseling or coaching
The CO may interact w/ public by providing 5 services such as the following:
- Issuing burning permits
- Inspecting facilities
- Providing public fire and life safety education
- Investigating suspicious fires
- Providing emergency care to victims of hazardous incidents
5 concepts new CO’s should apply:
- Leadership
- Ethics
- Supervision
- Responsibility
- Authority
Difference between station life and emergencies
Station life is relationship oriented while emergencies are task oriented.
To overcome antagonism, jealousy, and loss of friendships, the new CO must perform the following 7 actions:
- Commit to the responsibilities, duties and reqs of supervisory position
- Show loyalty to organization
- Support all types of education and training
- Guard conversations
- Accept criticism graciously.. Accept praise modestly
- Lead by example
- Praise in public.. Discipline in private.
Theory X
- The avg worker is lazy, dislikes work and will avoid it whenever possible
- Most workers must be coerced into performing adequately by threats of punishment
- Avg worker prefers to be closely supervised and shuns responsibility
- Lack of ambition
Theory Y
- Avg worker does not dislike work. Work can be as natural as play or rest
- Workers will perform with self direction without coercion - Workers will support organizational objectives
- Avg worker seeks responsibility
- Only a small part of workers intelligence is ever harnessed.. W/ proper leadership, they will excel
Theory Z
- Leadership style that focuses on the people
- Employees remaining with the company for life
- Close relationship between work and social life
- Workers goal to produce economic success nurtures togetherness
- Participative approach to decision making
Weaknesses:
- Resistance to change
- Leader is expected to alter the situation to meet the style instead of altering the style to meet the situation
Differences between Manager and leader
- Mgrs administer; leaders innovate
- Mgrs ask how and when; leaders ask what and why
- mgrs focus on systems; leaders focus on people
- mgrs ensure things are done right; leaders ensure the right things are done
- mgrs maintain; leaders develop
- mgrs rely on control; leaders inspire trust
- mgrs see short term; leaders see long term…
Manager and Leaders cont.
- mgrs accept status quo; leaders challenge status quo
- mgrs have eye on bottom line; leaders have eye on horizon
- mgrs are classic good soldiers; leaders are there own people
- mgrs are copies; leaders are originals.
5 basic leadership traits
SICPB
- Sees opportunities
- Identifies challenges
- Communicates
- Plans for success
- Builds trust
5 Power Types
RELIC
- Reward power
- Expert power
- Legitimate power
- Identification power
- Coercive power
Reward power
Based one persons perception of another’s ability to grant rewards.
Coercive power
Based on subordinates perceptions of leaders authority to punish - verbal or written reprimand - suspension w/out pay - withholding reward - raise or promotion - termination
Identification power
Derived from someone’s desire to identify with and emulate another Other form: referent or personal power: ones perception that they have power because of a relationship they have w/ someone who does
Expert power
Based on one’s perception that another’s knowledge and expertise can help in 1st persons endeavors.
Legitimate power
Derived because of the organizational structure of the department/organization.. - Also called organizational authority or position power.. - Those who rely on legitimate power alone are not likely to be successful
Legitimate power is derived from:
- shared values
- acceptance of social structure
- sanction of a legitimizing agent
To achieve command presence, it is necessary to have the following 6 attributes:
STCARE
- Self confidence
- Trustworthiness
- Consistency
- Acceptance
- Responsibility
- Expertise
8 steps to create command presence
- Know the situation
- Know what resources are available
- Know the strategy and tactics required
- Listen to all points of view
- Make the decision
- Take responsibility
- Implement the decision
- Evaluate the decision.
6 basic challenges common to most supervisory positions
- Establish priorities 2. Anticipating problems 3. Establishing and communicating goals and objectives 4. Creating an effective team 5. Creating job interest
The best span of control
3-7 subordinates w/ 5 being optimal.
B.W. Tuckman research 5 stage development model
- Forming 2. Storming 3. Norming 4. Performing 5. Adjourning
Forming
- Employees are uncertain of their roles in the group at this stage
- Not certain they can trust or work with other members
- As relationships grow, trust and teamwork develop, and the members begin to see themselves as a part of the group
Storming
- Conflict may result at this stage as members jockey for informal leadership or attempt to exert their own individual influence over the group
- Reduce time in this stage
- The leader is supportive, actively listening to members and providing explanations for decisions
Norming
- The group establishes its own set of norms and values that each member accepts and adheres to.
- The members become close and more cohesive
- Leader transitions into role of team member, allowing leadership to be shared by the members
Performing
- The supervisor works to maintain team spirit as the group moves toward accomplishing its objectives.
- At this point, the group is a true team.
- CO must monitor progress in this area as well because team members can develop certain behaviors and attitudes that can destroy team concept
- Act as equals treat each other as equals
Adjourning
- The final stage is the planned termination of the group task.
- It includes the accomplishments and participation of individual members
- Debrief members; determine if changes should be made
- Participants can feel satisified
Supervisor responsibilities
- Set a clear and positive example for subordinates
- Define expectations
- Receive assignments and complete a task efficiently and effectively
- Promote and maintain health and safety within workplace
- Develop an environment of cooperation and teamwork
- Develop and maintain the company as an integral part of organization
- Promote skills development
Supervisor responsibilities cont.
- Maintain discipline
- Establish the perimeters of behavior
- Ensure that activities are directed towards organizational goals
- Promote the pursuit of education
- Promote credentialing and certification
- Maintain files and records and prepare reports
Logic
Ability to reason and present a strong argument in favor of or against a position
Ethics
Analysis of the principles of human conduct in order to be able to determine right and wrong
Pathos
Ability to have empathy or sympathy for another person and make arguments based on emotional appeals
Ethical values
- Honesty
- Integrity
- Impartiality
- Fairness
- Loyalty
- Dedication
- Responsibility
- Accountability
- Perseverance
- Frugality
- Faithfulness
- Heroism
- Patriotism
- Morality
4 general types of reasoning
- Inductive
- Deductive
- Causal
- Analogical
Inductive reasoning
A process that arrives at a general conclusion based on a foundation of specific examples or data.
Deductive reasoning
Process of reaching a conclusion based on a general statement or principle. Ex. Major, minor premise.. Conclusion
Causal reasoning (cause and effect)
Process that is based on the relationship between 2 or more events in such a way that it is obvious one caused the other to occur.
Analogical reasoning
- Based on a comparison between 2 similar cases
- It infers that what is true in the 1st case will also be true in the 2nd case.
Communication process consists of the following 6 basic elements:
- Sender
- Message
- Medium or channel
- Receiver
- Interference
- Feedback to the sender
Barriers to Listening:
- INFO OVERLOAD - Identify essential elements of message
- PERSONAL CONCERNS - Focus on speaker/message instead of personal concerns
- OUTSIDE DISTRACTIONS - Take control of environ.. remove distractions
- PREJUDICE - Focus on message not messenger
Duties involving Human Resources Mgmt:
- Provide effective supervision
- Assign tasks
- Evaluate personnel performance
- Provide company-level training
- Administer policies and procedures
- Recommend actions
- Act as project mgr
- Provide professional dvlpmnt opport
- Initiate or assist with personnel transfers etc
7 Psychological (internal) barriers
- Fear - Main personal barrier to making a decision
- Ego or self esteem - Prevents effective decision making. Too much ego leads to ignoring the advice of others
- Indecisiveness - Events will over-take the need for decision
- Distrust - Causes the lack of trust in ones own ability
- Antagonism - Active opposition by others causes decision maker to compromise
- Jealousy - Causes an individual to act irrationally and block suggestion of others
- Unethical motives - IInvolves personal gain, enhanced self image, personal protection at the expense of others
6 Organizational (external) barriers
- Lack of data
- Lack of accurate analysis
- Lack of resources
- Lack of mgmt/member support
- Lack of commitment
- Lack of capacity
7 sources of info that help establish the standard of care:
- Agency directives and policies
- Directives of a superior agency
- Guidelines and policies of other agencies (locally accepted practices)
- Guidelines and standards developed by pro organizations (i.e. NFPA)
- Professional texts and manuals
- Research publications
- Opinions of expert witnesses
Misfeasance
Wrongful performance - When an individual has the knowledge, ability, and legal authority to act but performs the act incorrectly