Empowerment through talent
Walk in to any firehouse across the United States, whether it be career, volunteer, on-call or combination and you will find one thing. The Fire Service is filled with people from all walks of life united together with the one common passion of firefighting. The talent pool we find ourselves immersed in is incredible. We all have the same basic training to become a firefighter and EMS provider, but we do not all have the same knowledge, experience, craft or skill that goes beyond the Fire Service.
Each individual member of our organizations have their own unique value, more so in our Volunteer and On-Call membership pool. Remember, each one of these members has a career besides the Fire Department. These careers can range from Electricians, Plumbers, Landscapers, Teachers, Retail & Restaurant professionals, Municipal employees and beyond. Are we recognizing the value these members can provide to our Fire Department?
Whether you are the member who possesses a specific talent or a member of the department’s leadership, we should all be taking a close look at how the department as a whole can harvest and use the talents that are available to us all. There is no question that making our members feel valued will improve retention. So, where do the talents become valuable to us? It takes a little bit of creativity and thinking outside the box.
One example that comes to mind right away is the member who works at a local restaurant and may have a little bit of pull with the business owner. When it comes time to look around for a location to host a fundraiser or an awards banquette, that member may be able to negotiate a deal with the owner.
In the colder portions of the United States, many fire department members could work for local heating companies as drivers. Locally here in Maine there is a Propane home heating company that employs a large amount of Firefighters. These employees are trained in emergencies involving propane tanks and the delivery trucks. This skill allows for them to lead a training night for the members in topics ranging from propane leaks to propane truck accidents.
Fundraising, public relations and campaigning have changed a lot over the past 15 years or so. The way we are getting the eye of the public has migrated from newspapers and banners to social media. A member who may be a digital media professional or a graphic designer could take your Fire Department’s fundraising to all new levels.
These are just a few examples that I hope can get your thoughts going. Often it can be easy to not see what is right in front of us. Taking advantage of the talents of each individual member doesn’t only assure things are being done around the Fire Department, it also gives each member a sense of ownership. In a world were retaining members is critical, empowering your members to take on a project and to use their skills is an obvious no-brainer.
