By Eddie Buchanan
Today it is common to fire service visionaries talk of leadership challenges within the fire service. In fact, the Volunteer/Combination Officer’s Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs indicated that “poor management” contributed heavily to people leaving the volunteer fire service, which is clearly one of the major challenges faced by volunteer leaders today. This begs the question, how do we select those who lead us in the volunteer fire service?
I believe that there are a wide variety of models for volunteer leader selection, but the most prominent method continues to be via popular vote. This is logical, as the volunteer fire service was born out of a social-fraternal model, not unlike other civic organizations. This system is highly democratic and places the most “popular” person in the leadership role. Other departments have evolved to more performance based models that are based on qualification and performance during some type of evaluation or assessment.
But which is the most effective method? Better yet, which selection method best serves our citizens we hare here to protect? These questions challenge what we know and believe about the volunteer fire service at its very core. In some departments, to pose this question is to challenge the organizational authority and culture. Because of this delicate environment, little study has been done to truly evaluate the various selection methods and their effectiveness in identifying leaders that can break the chain of volunteer dissatisfaction.
A brief survey has been developed and posted at least start the study and debate of leader selection models. If you are a volunteer serving in any capacity, I encourage you to take a few moments to complete this survey. I have agreed to share the information compiled with www.VolunteerFD.org once the data has been compiled. You can access the survey by going http://hanoverems.blackboard.com and clicking on the “Survey” tab at the top of the page. As you answer each question, you will be able to see immediate results for each question. I thank you in advance for your assistance.
Eddie Buchanan began his fire service career in 1982 as a volunteer with the Henry Volunteer Fire Department and currently serves as a Division Chief with Hanover County (VA) Fire & EMS. He is the author of the Volunteer Training Officer’s Handbook from Fire Engineering Books & Videos and has served on the Board of Directors for the Volunteer/Combination Officer’s Section of the IAFC. He currently serves as Director at Large for the International Society of Fire Service Instructors.