Fire Officers Handbook CH 7 - Leading The Fire Company

Question 1

What are the 3 leadership styles according to the text?

Answer 1

1) Autocratic ( an iron hand approach, tell ff what to do and expect immediate adherence)
2) Democratic ( a consultative apporoach, takes advantage of the resourcefulness of the group)
3) Laissez-Faire ( a free rein style, moves decision making away from the fire officer to the individual fire fighters)

Question 2

According to the text what is the 5 step approach to making decisions?

Answer 2

1) clear your mind
2) list options
3) weigh the outcome
4) make a choice
5) evaluate decision

Question 3

According to the text French and Raven describe 5 types of power as the result of the ‘target persons’ response from the ‘agent’ making a request (ie Chief and fire fighters)

Answer 3

1) Legitimate Power (IM has legitimate power to reassign vent sector)
2) Reward Power ( complying to obtain rewards believed to be contolled by agent)
3) Expert Power ( target complies due to belief agent has special knowledge)
4) Refferant Power (target complies due to admiration with agent and seeks approval)
5) Coercive Power ( target complies to avoid punishment controlled by agent)

Question 4

Gary Yukl updated French and Raven to define what 2 types of power?

Answer 4

1) Personal Power - includes expert and referent, and reflects the effectiveness of the individual.
2) Positional Power - defined by role an individual has within the organization (legitimate, reward and cooercive power)

Question 5

Gary Yukl provides what two additional position-based power descriptions ?

Answer 5

1) Information Power

2) Ecological Power

Question 6

According to the text what is the advantage of assigning tasks on the scene?

Answer 6

It reduces unnecessary effort.

Question 7

The Autocratic style of leadership is required in which 2 situations?

Answer 7

1) when the fire company is involved in high risk, emergency scene activity (conducting a primary search-no time for discussion)
2) when the officer needs to take immediate corrective action ( such as during a “control, neutralize, command” response to a confrontation)

Question 8

According to the text when is the Democratic Style of leadership required?

Answer 8

This style should be utilized by the officer when planning a project or developing the daily work plan of the company (a consultative approach)

Question 9

When should the fire officer use the Laissez Faire approach to leadership?

Answer 9

This is an effective leadership style when working with experienced firefighters and when handling routine duties that pose little personal hazard.

Question 10

According to the text the Fire Station is a Municipal Work Place. What are 2 general rules for non-emergency activities?

Answer 10

1) Do not compromise the ability of the fire company to respond to emergencies in its district.
2) Do not jeopardize the public’s trust in the fire department.

Question 11

The fire officer must be able to apply methods to inspire subordinates to achieve their maximum potential. Altho each method has a slightly different focus, what are the 5 overriding principles?

Answer 11

1) Recognize individual differences
2) use goals
3) ensure goals are perceived as attainable
4) individualize rewards
5) check for system equality

Question 12

According to the text what does the best known motivational therory “Reinforcement Theory” suggest?

Answer 12

It suggests that behaviour is a function of its consequences.

Question 13

According to the text, Reinforcement must immediately follow an action to increase the probability that the desired behaviour will recur. What are the 4 types of reinforcers?

Answer 13

1) Positive Reinforcement - reward for good behaviour
2) Negative - removing an undesirable consequence of good behaviour
3) Extinction - ignoring bad behaviour
4) Punishment - punishing bad behaviour

Question 14

Motivation Hygiene Theory breaks the motivational process into what 2 parts?

Answer 14

1) Hygiene Factors - conditions external to the individual such as pay and work conditions .
2) Motivation Factors - the individuals internally determined motivators, such as the desire for recognition, achievement, responsibility and advancement

Question 15

According to the text, the key to the Goal Setting Motivation Theory is what?

Answer 15

The key is for the officer to set specific goals that will increase performance. The goals must be difficult but attainable.

Question 16

What does the motivational process know as Equity Theory suggest?

Answer 16

It suggests that employees evaluate the outcomes they receive for their inputs and compare them with the outcomes others receive such as pay and benefits (ex. Why fire chief is paid more than firefighters)

Question 17

According to the text, Expectancy Theory is based on the premise that people act in a manner that they believe will lead to an outcome they value: in this case the officer must address what 3 considerations to motivate the individual?

Answer 17

1) the employees belief that his or her effort will achieve the goal
2) the employees belief that meeting the goal will lead to the reward
3) the employees desire for the reward or the rewards value to the employer.

Question 18

Using the Expectancy Theory, how might a fire officer motivate a firefighter?

Answer 18

The officer might indicate that if the firefighters turnout time is less than 80 seconds, that this performance is reflected on the evaluation, which is used in the promotional process in which the fire fighter is interested.

Question 19

What are the 2 situations when a Fire Officer will use the Autocratic style of leadership?

Answer 19

1) when the fire company is involved in a high risk situation such as primary search, there is no time for discussion.
2) when the fire officer needs to take immediate corrective action, such as during “control, neutralize, command” response to a confrontation.

In both scenarios the officer must be firmly in control of the situation

Question 20

According to the text the position of fire officer, and the power that comes with it does not make you a good leader, what are the 6 Leadership Attribuites?

Answer 20

1) beliefs
2) values
3) ethics
4) character
5) knowledge
6) skills