General Forums >> Training Concepts & Tactics >> Listen to me....
Listen to me....
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Posted 4 months ago Listen to me.... Its a hard thing to swollow when someone is screaming down your throught. As a leader we need to learn the differince in talking and screaming on the fire scene. Several fire chiefs i have had have been BAD! I have found as a young Lt. that when you are wearing your SCBA the pumpers are roaring and the radio squealing and the chain saw rapped to the nuts it is hard to hear on the fire ground. however you still need to talk not yell on the ground especially on the radio all you will get is garbaled message it causes everyones adreanalin to go through the roof and cant be good on the cardio vascular system maybe that is whats causing MI's in the fire service not the bacon and eggs everymorn. when you speak in a calm and colected manner your end result will be more harmonious and your crew will respect you and more will get acomplished with less. just my thoughts on the matter reply whit what you think...... FTM-PTB-RFH-EGH
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| Posted 4 months ago Amen Brother Pitcher! We have capt. that doesn't train his rooks, but he is damn sure able to yell and scream at them on the fire scene. This annoys the crap outta me. I didn't believe it until I seen and heard it. What the heck is that all about? I ain't tootin my own horn but my shift knows what the other is thinking on scene. We train that way, from the capt. to the rook. On scene is not the time to train! I am afraid one of them is going to get hurt or killed. |
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| Posted 4 months ago Can I get an AMEN!! Brothers, I know what you mean, and I have seen it first hand, and I agree with the both of you. I went to a stand by for the demolition derby at the local fair one year, we do it every year, we cover the demo derby with firefighters and EMS....well, one year we had minimal manpower covering the derbies, and only 2 officers, a chief and a Lt....well, for some reason the 2 officers did not split up for the 2 teams we had, We have 2 teams each with a hoseline and tools for rapid extrication, about 100 feet apart. Instead of splitting up they both went to one side. Well, myself, with the luck I have, was on the side without an officer!! (yipeee) and the rookie we had on the nozzle trying to get some time with one and learn, went out for a small engine fire and when he opened up it was set to fog, which he quickly set to straight stream, put out the fire, and we returned to our posts........only to find the Lt SCREAMING at the rookie saying "You shouldnt use fog on an engine fire, you could push it into the passenger compartment and burn him!!!!" Mind you he was SCREAMING at this poor rookie in front of thousands of spectators. Needless to say a month later that rookie quit and moved to another department where he is flourishing as a good firefighter....(our loss their gain)...but after the fireworks calmed down and the Lt was heading back I called out to him and asked to talk with him. I asked calmly and nicely why he chose to rip into him in front of all these people instead of taking him aside and explaining it to him. He proceeded to yell at me!!! Not a very nice department!!!! LOL Brian "Moose" Jones
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| Posted 4 months ago Yelling at someone, especially in public, accomplished nothing but hard feelings and embarrassment. Like my dear old dad used to tell me ALL the time as a teenager, it's not what you said, it's how you said it. There are times when an "increased volume of voice" is necessary (such as packed up inside a house)......but that is much different than yelling. We invested in the voice amplifiers for our face masks and they make a world of difference. One of the first things I learned as I progressed through the ranks of the military is good leaders will praise in public, but punish in private! Ross Caston
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| Posted 4 months ago I know 1st hand about an officer who will yell, be-little you in front of people, you can do no right in his eyes, he is always right-everyone else is wrong even if it comes from someone higher ranked. I hated this guy and he made my life hell at the dept. I stuck it out though and he finally left this year. I was happy others happy and some people have even come back now that he is gone. It's one thing to yell across the roar so someone hears you, it's another when you are yelling a person for sake of yelling at them. |
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| Posted 3 months ago I had a captian once who was like that ---- he finally self distructed---problem solved. |
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| Posted 3 months ago There is a distinct difference between Be-Little (caused by insecurity) and Being-Loud (so you are heard). Humiliation is a cancer that consumes trust, teamwork, and camaraderie. Sadly not only is it someone in a position of leadership degrading or demeaning a subordinate, it also happens when Firefighters questions the actions and abilities of someone in authority with others (behind their back.) Whatever the issue... private conversations face to face achieve the greatest results! Being-Loud is another story...If a subordinate is acting erratically, rushing in unaware of the surroundings, or making mistakes. Ask them to "Be Safe" and if that doesn't have the desired effect, walk over to them and assist them. After DeBriefing, pull them aside and ask them to evaluate their performance on-scene. Ask them what tasks they felt they performed exceptionally and which ones they thought they should and could improve on. I make it a point to never be critical of another Firefighter's knowledge, skills, and abilities with anyone of a lesser rank unless it is in the evaluating process and only then when I have witnessed and documented it. I have used my Loud Voice on a number of occasions to draw attention to a safety issue. I have asked the LEO to give us a hand with scene security and said it with a note of sarcasm. I have heard Firefighters yelling for water as soon as they step off the apparatus. I have whispered into their ear that the Fire was burning when the alarm came in...Focus on the things you can control...the water is coming! Eddie D. Howard
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