As we operate at an incident and interact with the public or our firefighters, we need to always be mindful of a few things: How are we coming across? Are we having a positive impact? Are the recipients of our communications getting the message? A significant part of getting the message out is a little but important piece of the communications puzzle: command presence.
I can remember my first experience when command presence was a factor. I was new to the department and was responding to a report of a house fire, which turned out to be an oil burner emergency. There I was, fully dressed, standing on the sidewalk in front of the scene of the incident. I noticed a civilian coming toward me walking quickly down the street. He passed the two chiefs standing in front of the house and came up to me. He started asking me questions about what had happened, as it was his house that we were operating in.
I, being a "Proby," politely directed the man to the chiefs standing in civilian clothes about 10 feet from me — the same people he had walked past. They told him what was going on and put his mind at ease. He was drawn to me — not someone in civilian clothes — because I was standing there in full gear. I realized then how important it is to be properly dressed, not only for operating safely, but also for conveying the positive image we all want to communicate to those we serve.
Command presence is a tool that we’ve long used with success in the fire service. The idea of identifying who is in charge has been around since Benjamin Franklin organized the first fire department in 1736. A painting of him in the White Union Fire Company helmet is still circulating around. Helmet shields, like the one Franklin’s wearing in the painting, identifying the firefighter’s rank. Our uniforms have multiple characteristics that clearly communicate our rank to fellow firefighters and those around us.
As an officer, it is imperative that you lead by example. As a chief officer, I get dressed for a number of reasons. I believe that if my firefighters have to wear full gear, then so should the officers. It sends a very powerful message to your crew that you are a leader who leads by example. It also conveys that you do not take what they do for granted because of your rank. Communicate to your firefighters that you are not a “do as I say, not as I do” type of fire officer.
Although there are those among us who do not have a positive opinion of the media, they are a useful and necessary part of our life. Just as we have our jobs to do, so do they. For the most part, I have had very positive experiences with the media, save for a few run-ins with overzealous, pushy reporters. While giving media interviews is usually a straightforward affair, it’s important to be well prepared when you’re representing your department to a wide audience.
When doing an interview or press conference, you should look the part you are representing. In our business, hopping out of bed with our hair going in 100 different directions is not unusual. That is why helmets and uniform caps are a great quick fix. Even if you just walked out of your home all primped, you should wear your helmet when doing an on-scene interview. It gives your department or unit an identity while conveying a professional presence. For those times when an interview is scheduled away from the incident, uniforms always work well. There are times, especially in volunteer departments, when you may not have clothes that are appropriate for an on-camera interview. But with a little thought, and some pre-interview planning, you can come off like a champ. I will provide more on interacting with the media in a future article.
Command presence is not limited to how we dress, but also how we conduct ourselves. We have all witnessed — either personally or by radio — the officer who loses it and starts screaming into the microphone. These outbursts set a very dangerous tone for the incident. As I have told officers and firefighters whom I’ve had the pleasure to speak to in classes, there are two scenarios that would justify you getting excited: when the incident is in your own home or when you personally ignited the fire. Aside from that, losing decorum at an incident is not acceptable. Your members are looking up to you as a leader. If you are in a state of hysteria, it will cascade down to the troops and ultimately have a negative impact on the operation.
In a nutshell, if you dress the part and act the part, you will play the part well.
Stay Safe!!!
