When in Doubt... LEAD

Some stuff happens by chance, other stuff happens cause it's meant to be. I went into the Mechanics office in the station looking for a drill, and found a book. I swear it almost jumped off the shelf... When In Doubt... Lead! The leaders Guide to Personal & Organizational Development in the Fire Service. now figure the odds that book would be in the Mechanics office... why would it be there?? Hmmm As luck would have it, the book found me and I carried it in my pocket for a day... Then I began to read. I couldn't have opened it to a better chapter - Chapter 4 - titled A Few Things About Change.
Again... meant to be. See, we are going thru lots of change here... 3 out of the 4 top guys left in the blink of an eye and the "new guys" came in an instituted change! go figure! Some of the older guys tried to explain that hey, we gotta get use to the new LEADERS as they get used to us and how things are here... Those folks were so right!
Now I know I am ABRASIVE and can be very stubborn, but I came in with the most open mind I could and tried to understand the whys of some things... others, I just dismissed as wrong, illegal or immoral! those to me were the very easy ones to change. Then, as I listened, I tried to figure the top three or four things that really got to the guys... i changed those and thought we were off to a very good start! Little did I know that some people will just fight to fight! Some of these very well paid 'firefighter' did 2, 3 and or maybe 4 years in the Military and got out... certs in hand and now, they are here and so spoiled they cant function if asked to do their job!
Lets see... respond to an emergency safely - why? We don't have to do that, we are the FD! Meet the requirements of NFPA 1500 - Why? I can pass my fit test with a goatee! Be on time for work -why? no one else has said anything!
Well, often we as leaders must play the hand we are dealt with personnel, these guys didn't get to pick their new leaders, so... some change is bound to happen! Can any of you even fathom being upset because the uniform that is purchased for you is being changed to make you look better, make your appearance better? Are you kidding me? I will wear whatever they tell me ! But no... 'we should have a say in the uniform'. For years you have worn t-shirts and faded pants, now you want a say? Whatever! we are here to help defend democracy... not practice it! yup, stole that from a movie!
Anyway... If you can get your hands on the book... do! from the back cover -

"One of the key roles of leadership is to position the people in the organization to be successful. this includes aspects of organizational design; general management; the selection, nurturing, and direction provided to people throughout their careers; providing a conduit to our customers; and tending to our own professional and personal needs. "