Summer is just around the corner and everyone is anxious to spend some serious time outside enjoying the warmer days and evenings with family and friends. Here in Southern California warm summer weather tends to last a good 7 months or so - substantially longer than many other parts of the country - so outdoor living is a way of life around here.
Once you are aware of how fire behaves and how it travels, you will have a solid basis on which to build your assessment of the fire. Here is where you can begin addressing the earliest of what I consider to be your critical fireground size-up questions:* Union leadership - Dysfunctional relationships between fire chiefs and union leaders can get in the way of addressing difficult challenges as much (or more) than any other issue. Fire departments that have developed the ability for management and the union to work together for the betterment of the organization and the safety of the community usually enjoy more success in a variety of arenas. The fire chief and union leadership should develop the capability to plan together, solve problems together, and create relationships inside and outside the fire department that benefit the organization as a whole.Like it or not, when you are riding the right-front seat, you will periodically end up being the incident commander, a least for a short time. As an incident commander, you must know what your department has available in terms of apparatus, equipment and talent. You must also know how to employ these system elements within the range of responsibilities you will face as a person riding the right-front seat. You will also need to understand how fire behaves and what you can do to interact with it when you encounter it.- If you feel that summer is just flying by, extend the season by designing a permanent outdoor fireplace, firepit and patio heaters to keep you warm during the cooler autumn temperatures.- Connect your grill to a permanent fuel line and avoid those propane tanks all together.The following seven areas of focus can provide a model for conducting a self-assessment that can serve as a roadmap to how the fire chief spends a significant part of his or her time and energy. The seven are not in any order of importance because each one impacts the leadership capability of the fire chief and the political and operational support provided to the fire department by policy makers and other key decision makers.Influence is a reflection of leadership capability, and addressing these seven focus areas will enhance the political and operational influence of the fire chief. If any of the seven areas are weakened or ignored, it can negatively impact a chief's ability to lead the organization. Fire chiefs should do a personal assessment of how they measure up in each of these seven focus areas, and then make ongoing adjustments where necessary and possible. This is not a one-time assessment, but should occur periodically throughout a chief's career.Dennis Compton will present "Raising the Bar for Fire Officer Leadership" and "Progressive Leadership Principles, Concepts and Tools" at Firehouse Expo 2011.BALTIMORE, MD* Family - Being the fire chief is a very demanding job. Sometimes, fulfilling the responsibilities of the position can mean that the chiefs family relationships suffer negative consequences. The job can simply become totally consuming for the chief.A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the 7 Tips To Consider When Designing Your Ultimate Outdoor Escape. And since I'm now in the midst of planning a charming outdoor living space for my client that will compliment the new interior space, I thought it would be helpful to provide you with some added details to help you transform your yard into a beautiful outdoor paradise this summer.- If at all possible and layout allows, plan your outdoor cooking areas as close to your indoor kitchen as possible. A shorter distance of travel transporting food back and forth will make outdoor entertaining easier.DENNIS COMPTON, a Firehouse9 contributing editor, is a well-known speaker and the author of several books, including his new Progressive Leadership Principles, Concepts and Tools. He has also authored the When In Doubt, Lead! series and Mental Aspects of Performance tor Firefighters and Fire Officers. Compton was the fire chief in Mesa, AZ, for five years and as assistant fire chief in Phoenix, AZ, where he served for 27 years. Compton is past chairman of the Executive Board of the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) and past chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Institute's National Advisory Committee. He is currently chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Directors of Safe Kids Worldwide.BALTIMORE, MDBalancing work and family, while still doing the job well, can be a challenge but deserves a great deal of the chiefs attention. Deteriorated relationships with the people closest to us can be a high price to pay for success at work.- Elevated deck or patio.- If space is at a premium build in your seating.Outdoor Kitchen Details.- Lounging: Pool and/or spa, chairs and chaises or built-ins.
- If you feel that summer is just flying by, extend the season by designing a permanent outdoor fireplace, firepit and patio heaters to keep you warm during the cooler autumn temperatures.
Author: Lori Gilder
No comments:
Post a Comment