Ethical Leadership

Ethical Leadership

Talk about a game changer.   I have only been on the EPFD for 3 years but I have learned a lot…..about strategy & tactics for fire suppression, providing emergency medicals services, rescue, public education, etc……  the list goes on and on….I have learned that we are very fortunate to have such an incredible training program within Eden Prairie which includes the leadership, the curriculum, the equipment and safety as well as the opportunities.  But I was very surprised when I attended last weeks session on Ethical Leadership which was conducted by Chad Weinstein, a….(click to read his profile and to get a sense of his experience and passion.)    Chad has been working with the officers for the last few years but this was the first time they brought this level personal leadership training down to every fire fighter.   

I expect this type of investment from my professional career where I manage people; customers, resources and there is a high expectation for performance but from a volunteer organization?   Well, when you think about it the fire ground requires the same level of investment….managing a squad of people, interacting with the community, using public resources and think about the expectations that are put upon the fire service (life, safety and the preservation of property).  

Anyway, ethical leadership training was one of the better ‘classroom’ training session’s.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take practicing fire suppression or auto-extraction any day over sitting in a class room but this type of professional development training…..being offered by the fire service….for a volunteer organization…..is pretty cool.