Control The Pot Stirring
One of the greatest challenges in leading a volunteer fire department is keeping everyone happy and keeping morale at a high level. Without morale, you will struggle to keep your membership numbers where they need to be. The most dangerous threat to morale are the ones who like to talk behind other’s backs, gossip and “stir the pot” around the firehouse. How do we police this unwanted threat?
We certainly don’t want to remove these types from the ranks, since we are trying to keep our membership heavy and strong. What we need to do is change their outlook on things, and at the same time make it known that their actions will not be tolerated. When backstabbing and “pot stirring” is heard, it is important to squash it as soon as possible before it snowballs out of control. Rumors and drama can spread like wildfire in the fire station, and it is our job to get ahead of the fire and knock it down…its what we know how to do, right?
As new members come in, we teach them about brotherhood and how great serving on the fire department is for your community and for your self. We teach them to have each other’s backs and to be there for one another. To have the senior members tainting the mood and talking bad behind other member’s backs is unacceptable.
Don’t let negative attitudes and “pot stirring” run out of control in your department. Take control, squash it when it starts, and make it clear that it won’t be accepted. Keeping your membership happy and the family atmosphere alive and well is one of the most important goals today.
