Leadership Challenges and Institutional Change

As a member of the fire service for more than 36 years, I found that accepting challenges and change was a part of my life, both professionally and personally. In the early years, my supporters encouraged me to accept the challenge of becoming a career firefighter. Once achieving that benchmark, becoming an officer and working my way through the ranks paved the way for more challenges, and significant changes. I looked at each as a test of my character and my perseverance. My time in the training division or fire prevention affected my personal life, but eventually made my marriage stronger and increased my supervisory and administrative skills. Accepting the need for an advanced degree, or a special assignment, or even volunteering for community youth services helped prepare me for leadership roles.

 

My most recent challenge is really two-fold. While approaching devastating budget reductions in my department, there was a need to reduce staff while we were in the middle of an experimental program for the department. Reduced budgets do not permit the latitude for any experimental processes, but this tool may have saved staff positions. It was a conundrum to say the least.

 

We were experimenting with a third party online electronic reporting program for life safety systems. At the time of the budget cuts, the program was responsible for improving compliance by nearly 200% while allowing staff to be more efficient. In addition, it established a usable database as a search engine. We were observing that electronic test reporting is extremely valuable to the fire service if done properly.

 

All fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, commercial hoods and a myriad of other systems are periodically tested for functionality and reliability. Test reports completed by private service companies are typically mailed, but electronic reporting creates a useful database without the need for hand filing or the need for on-site storage. It has to be a collaborative partnership between public agencies and private enterprise, and it takes time to populate the database. Patience and persistence are necessary for success.

 

The cultures between public agencies and private companies are extremely diverse. Due to the nature of public service and public disclosure legislation, public agencies have developed cultures of openness, and typically share information freely. Private companies fear competition, shelter proprietary information and distrust government involvement in general. To say that these cultural differences might present challenges to electronic reporting is significantly understating the endeavor.

 

The cost of the program is small compared to the benefits. The cost varies depending on the third party provider and what services they offer, but is between $7.50 and $15.00 per report. Typically the service company pays the fee, so there is no cost to the jurisdiction. There is also a potential revenue fee option that can be authorized if needed by the authority receiving the reports.

 

Resistance to the submittal fee by service companies was high at first, but a number of jurisdictions are beginning to implement a fee to submit paper reports due to the labor involved with reviewing, filing and storing hard copies. The service company submittal fee buys them notification to the property owner, usually in the form of letters, it creates a virtual file draw for service companies to store and manage and it provides follow-up notification for deficient systems. It can also protect their customer base.

 

The benefits to the jurisdiction are, or can be, enormous. It provides a complete database listing all the buildings, property owners or managers, addresses, contact information for emergencies and complete tabulation of every life safety system in the jurisdiction. This is all accessible from any wireless device given the proper codes. It is perfect for those late night emergencies where incident commanders need information.

 

Periodic tests are automatically scheduled, notifications are sent to owners and service companies of impending tests. The results of the test are posted on the website the moment the test is complete. Benefits for the property owner are reduced insurance rates, as well as confidence that the life safety system is functional and reliable, so their property and the people living or working there will be protected.

 

I believe these programs have value. I have seen the results and I am convinced that inspection, testing and maintenance of existing life safety systems will help make our communities safer.

 

In the end, I chose to retire instead of laying-off two staff members. My salary was used to balance the budget and keep an experimental program operational. I am now serving the community in a different manner by advocating for this emerging industry.

 

In looking back, I believe my greatest leadership challenge was coaching an 11 year old girl’s soccer team. The similarities between coaching young girls on the soccer field and managing firefighters, or implementing new management tools, can be astounding. Sometimes your most valuable lessons can come from the most surprising sources. What you think are inconsequential challenges can become life changing experiences for others.