Fire Officer Traits

464 Words2 Pages
One of the first traits that I look for in a fire officer and I feel is the most important is common sense. We must think before we act. If we allow ourselves to think of how to handle a situation rather than rush right in, we can decide on the best possible approach. Quick decisions that are not thought out can become faulty decisions. Take the time to “stop, step back, and think” before acting. Good decisions are often associated with common sense (Smith, 2008, p. 16). A person can be a good test taker or have the time to go to as many schools as you wish but all the education or classes that you take do not teach you common sense. Academic knowledge provides additional tools that assist you during the decisions making process but ultimately relying on your gut feeling and common sense are imperative. Another trait that I feel strongly about is good people skills. As a company officer we represent not only ourselves but we represent our organization and our profession. We constantly respond to calls requiring interaction with residents or visitors numerous times per shift. Whether participating in school events or shopping at the store, we deal with people repetitively. Our job involves continually dealing with people and it is imperative that we leave a good impression. A company officer lives with his subordinates for one third of his life and harmony is crucial to success at this level. By studying each subordinate, he or she can determine how to bring out the best in each of them. The key ingredient is motivation. They must be personally motivated. A company officer can be successful if they praise their firefighters’ good behavior publicly and criticize their mistakes privately (Smith, 2008, p. 16). Responsibility as well as accountability is another trait that I recognize to become an effective fire officer. The company officer is

More about Fire Officer Traits

Open Document