My January blog series is based on a conversation that I had with two captains from the same fire department. They don’t know each other and the conversations are separated by two years. Both explained why they aren’t interested in pursuing the position of battalion chief and both gave three issues related to battalion chiefs that I have heard more than once as I travel across the country. They are:
- Battalion chiefs who fail to listen to subordinates.
- Battalion chiefs who take an authoritarian approach to leadership using open or veiled threats against subordinates.
- Battalion chiefs who are technically and tactically incompetent.
Today, we are looking at a failure to listen to subordinates. I am constantly amazed at how many times I hear company officers and firefighters say, “My BC doesn’t listen to me.”
Why does this happen and what prevents battalion chiefs from listening to their subordinates? I believe three of the reasons are:
- Too busy and rushed to stop and listen to what others are saying. The remedy: take a breath and realize the importance of listening to your people. Listening builds connection and credibility.
- Not valuing the people who work for you. This is in spite of the fact that ad nauseum organizations say their people are the number one asset. The solution: listening builds stronger relationships.
- Pride and haughtiness. Wearing collar brass and a gold badge is not a reason to create a caste system whereby the chiefs are too good to listen to the troops. That is nothing more than pure arrogance. How is this corrected: by humbling yourself and listening to what is being said. Listening builds respect.
In all three bullets above, you may see a common thread: listening, listening, and listening. Remember, failing to listen is a failure to connect, and a failure to connect is a failure in communication.
Next week I will address the second complaint on the list: an authoritarian approach using open or veiled threats against subordinates.
