TheBigRedGuide.com’s Post

"It's been years since we've seen any written policies/procedures.".. Have you heard this in your fire station?? 📱 Without a SIM card, your cell phone won’t work to its full potential. 🛫 Without a flight plan, your New York-bound plane could end up in Washington, D.C. Similarly, without robust policies, fire department personnel can't operate at their best. 🚒 The finest facilities and equipment mean little without policies to guide actions. Fire service leaders play a crucial role in this process, identifying the need for policies and setting the process in motion. Read more about it here: #PolicyMatters #Leadership #PublicSafety #OperationalExcellence #FireService #Efficiency #SafetyFirst #Lexipol #FireRescue1

“The new generation of firefighters suck”—a phrase heard in firehouses all over the world. We expect people to join the fire service and instantly adapt to our lifestyle and ways of life. So, are we the problem? Instead of telling the probationary firefighter to “do it this way,” why aren’t we taking the time to show them “this is why we do it this way”? Guide the future. I can go on about this for hours. There is so much more I can add here, but there is too much to type. We don’t earn the right to complain about our crew if we’re not giving them a fair chance by teaching them the why. Think about it. Anyone wanting further discussion on this, I’ll present it, and I’ll discuss it over coffee or a drink. We need to be better for the future of the fire service. #FireOfficer #leadership #superHUMAN

The culture of a volunteer fire department has a direct impact on the health and safety of its members. This NVFC course outlines key strategies for improving department culture -- and reducing line of duty injuries and deaths. Take it free for a limited time at https://bit.ly/3xH40Q2.

📣 In the News: Waco AGC Leadership Transition The Waco Tribune-Herald recently highlighted the leadership transition at the Waco Associated General Contractors chapter. As K. Paul Holt retires, Grayson, Huskey steps in, bringing extensive association experience and a new perspective. With a background in marketing and regional leadership, Grayson aims to continue advocating for local contractors and fostering growth in the booming construction market. The article delves into his plans for strategic initiatives and community engagement. Read more to learn about the exciting changes and future plans for our local construction industry! 🚧 #WacoAGC #LeadershipUpdate #ConstructionNews

HNY! It's that time of year where we start to think about what we need to prioritise in the year ahead. If your Vic based, and take a leadership responsibility in a sporting club, business or organisation, make sure you add Victorian Child Safe Standards to the top of your priority list. Best Practice guidelines, suggest that a risk assessment on how children and young people are safeguarded should occur every 12 months. There are some excellent links and resources to help integrate the 11 standards into all environments and if you need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact Strategic Sporting Solutions. https://lnkd.in/g5uHYpiS Useful Links and Info: https://lnkd.in/g4ArhuDD #safesport #childsafety #childsafestandards #professionalsupport #sportsbusiness #sportsindustry

Leadership comes in many forms, this is not one of them.

As a CEO your role is not to put out fires. Your role is to find and select talented fire chiefs who will lead successful fire departments with talented and capable firefighters. Imagine the level of impact you can create by communicating this simple concept. Imagine how connected your people would feel after understanding how interconnected everyone is in your company. Remember isn't not about how many fires you all put out. It's about how many lives you all are impacting by doing your best and reaching your potentials. #theengineerwhisperer

"Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it." -Dwight D. Eisenhower Our typical vision of a "General & a President" is a person who simply says "do this now" with no discussion. Unfortunately, our vision of a General typically applies all the way down the administrative food chain to the first-tier level of "general," the field foreman. And that is how many if not most operate. Just think how much damage this "Eisenhower approach" will cause to production--and how many lives it would save. (Or will it enhance production and protect the lives of our people.)

Are you ready to work on Capitol Hill? Leadership Institute's Capitol Hill Staff Training (CHST) prepares would-be staffers for a career in Congress. Whether you're a newcomer to Washington or already a Hill staffer, the CHST can be a springboard for your political and professional success. After an intense two-day workshop, you will leave with a comprehensive understanding of a career on Capitol Hill and a stronger conservative network. Topics Covered: ✅ How to speak the language of the Hill ✅ The structure of a Hill office ✅ What Hill offices look for when hiring ✅ The legislative process ✅ The exciting process of budgeting and appropriations ✅ Communications on the Hill ✅ The importance of scheduling and administrative tasks ✅ How to conduct research ✅ Discussions on current legislation What to Expect:  ✅ Interactive lectures ✅ Panels and discussion groups ✅ Networking and relationship-building ✅ Lunch-and-learns with Hill Staffers ✅ Notable keynote speakers ✅ Curated reading list

Today I reflect on a quote that I recently read by Ernest Dimnet, most notable for his book The Art of Thinking. "The object of reflection is invariably the discovery of something satisfying to the mind which was not there at the beginning of the search." Last year my shift Battalion Chief asked me if I had ever attended college. With my wife, Emily Serikstad, DNP, CRNP having her Doctorate of Nursing Practice and a newborn daughter, I asked myself a few questions. What are my short term and long term goals? What do I want to achieve from my career? What example do I want to be to my daughter? This was an opportunity to reflect on not only those questions but to reflect on myself as a whole was a total eye opener. Since that question in October 2023: -I started college at Columbia Southern University, transferring a little less than half of the required credits for a Bachelor's of Science in Fire Administration. I am expected to complete my Bachelor's degree at the end of this year. -Increased my class load from 3 credits to 12 credits a term. -Made Columbia Southern University's President's List for achieving a 4.0 GPA. -Achieved Pro Board certification from Bucks County Community College in Incident Safety Officer, Health and Safety Officer, Fire Officer 1, Fire Officer 2, and Fire Officer 3 (a huge thank you to Liz Ellis MS, CFO, CFEI, CVFI for allowing me to take them all in one shot- AND PASS!) -Began the Center for Public Safety Excellence credentialing process for Fire Officer (a big thank you to Dr. Benjamin Stone, EFO, CFO, CEMSO for re-evaluating my points) -Applied and received approval for the Adopt A Road program with Dover Township. -Applied for the Lieutenant promotional process with my employer. -Became part of the "5:00AM club" to start a healthy exercise regimen. -Signed up for my first 5k, 10k and half marathon. (YIKES!) That opportunity to self reflect allowed me to focus on my family and myself. It allowed me to understand where I was and where I want to be. What I want to achieve both for my family, myself and my career. Most importantly, it allowed me reflect on the person I want to be for my wife and daughter. So- I will leave you with a few questions-feel free to answer in the comments: 1) Are you taking the opportunity to self-reflect? 2) What are you doing now to better prepare yourself for future opportunities? 3) What are your short term and long term goals? 4) Am I being the example that others would emulate and follow?