Team Development And Leadership: The Sacramento Fire Department

Team Development and Leadership

Team Development and Leadership

In this project, I’ve been asked to find a problem with a team that I’m involved in, and then to find solutions via coaching methods for that team. I work as a Firefighter for the Sacramento Fire

Department and will analyze my work team. We’ll first look at the background and structure of my department/team, then identify a potential problem, and finally discuss different methods for coaching and overcoming this problem. The issue that we’ll be looking at is how to keep individuals motivated throughout their careers in order to promote a highly functional team.

The Sacramento Fire Department (SFD) is the oldest full time paid Fire Department in the state of California. SFD was

In addition to understanding who fire departments hire and the process for doing so, it is likewise important to understand the organizational structure of the Fire Service. Much of the U.S. Fire Service structure was formed in the mid 1800’s. Post-Civil War brought an influx of highly trained and highly regimented personnel to the Fire Service. These individuals brought their ranking system and the idea of “chain of command.” Chain of command refers to how power and accountability flow, with those in each rank reporting and communicating to their direct superior.

Departments vary in terminology used, but most include the ranks of Fire Chief, Assistant Chief,

Battalion Chief, Captain, Engineer, and Firefighters. The term “Company” is used to describe a single apparatus and a crew (engine, truck, rescue, etc.). A Company is supervised by a Captain whose span of control is typically 3-7 personnel, including one Engineer and one to three

Firefighters at minimum. The Fire Department’s district or city is divided into sections or

Team Development and Leadership

“battalions” made up of several companies that a Battalion Chief oversees. One or

Ways Captains can help build strong teams and motivate Firefighters is to understand individual learning styles, understand individual personalities, and to utilize mentorship programs within the team. Knowing what the individual’s learning style is can help to maximize study time and increase job satisfaction. There are four learning styles: visual learners, auditory learners, reading/writing learners, and kinesthetic learners.

• Visual learners can be successful using pictures, diagrams, taking careful notes, and using charts. • In the fire ground drill setting, the drill should be demonstrated by instructors before attempted by the individual.

• A way to help the visual learner learn from mistakes is to film them while performing drills so they can review the drill afterwards and learn from mistakes.

• The Sacramento Fire Department has written what is known as a hands-on training (HOT) manual. This manual goes through every specific drill ground operation performed in the department. Step-by-step pictures are used to demonstrate the evolutions. Visual learners can excel from studying these pictures. The individual may want to write out steps to the drill