Leadership

It has no reference of riding position. It has no reference of rank. Leadership is something you have or you do not. These skills are utilized to set the example of what is right and wrong. It is doing right no matter who is watching. If you want credit for everything you do and need to be pat on the back for doing your job, I am sorry, being a leader is not for you. If you create an environment for the ones around you to shine, with you needing no credit, then you possess the characteristic of a great leader.

Set the example

Show up with an agenda, do not fly by the seat of your pants. Let your members know what the day has in store and stick to it. Leaders are confident, not wishy washy! If you ask someone to do something,
it better be something you are doing, or have done yourself. Leaders do not act like they are above doing anything. Lead from the front. If the crew is doing it, so will the leader. Support the decisions of the department. Do not openly criticize anything in front of your crew.

Professionalism

As a firefighter, your outward appearance is more important than you know. The way you and your equipment looks may not matter to you, but, I assure you it matters to the ones who are on the outside looking in. First impressions are based on appearance just as much as personality.

We all claim to be professional, but a lot of us don't look the part. The way our apparatus and uniform look really does make a statement of how professional we really are. It is simply lazy and unprofessional to have a dirty truck and a lackluster uniform. The first thing that comes to my mind when I see a firefighter with
his pants tucked in his boots is how horribly he is representing a profession that I love. Get it together. You are a professional, look the part. Keep the paint looking sharp and your boots like a mirror and don't forget the appearance of anything in between. As a leader, professionalism and appearance start with you.

Emergency situations

Have assignments before an emergency and stick to them. Train nonstop on them, so when you get a call you can lead and not dictate. Your members should be trained by their leader to a level that they will know what you want done without you saying it. Ask yourself if the service you are giving is the same level you would want given to the person you love the most. Adjust accordingly, and train on it. Train everyday, and, as a leader, if they are training so are you. Your gear gets put on just like theirs!

Documentation

This is the part where you are going to have to separate professional and personal relationships. If you can not separate friendship and leadership, this is not your calling. Document everything.
I like to document bad and good. I do not just document disciplinary issues. I love each of my members, and I want them publicly recognized for doing something well. I have had, in my time as an officer, 11 of my subordinates promote. Written referrals of them going above and beyond were a great help for their scoring placement.

Discipline your crew when needed and document the conversation. Also document the good they do. Both being documented will help in their advancement. Furthermore, documentation, no matter the purpose (reports, staffing, personnel or any other paperwork), is not an excuse to not be on the floor with your men. You are their leader. LEAD THEM!

Acting as an officer

I hate this term. You are not acting! YOU ARE AN OFFICER! You just do not hold the rank. Do not let this affect you. Act the same as if you were promoted. Do the same actions as above. Something I would like to point out that for me, the hardest transition from driver to officer was gaining respect as their leader.

Act like an officer even if you are just covering the position. Trust me! Your actions are already being judged by your brothers. They are feeling out what to expect when you do promote. Take advantage of this opportunity. Lead from the front, do not act better than your crew, teach them everything you know, and follow the advice above. This will pave a road for when you do promote that will allow your transition to be a breeze.

Good luck to everyone. Show your crew that you are human just like them, that you respect them, and that you expect the same respect back. And always be a professional. Leaders are mentors and mentors are listeners!