myAIPMLeadership Lessons: Level of Responsibility
David Griffin | Firehouse
"Dr. David Griffin shares what he's learned from his first three months in a new position of leadership."
"Starting a new level of responsibility on the operations of a shift is an exciting time and a wonderful opportunity. I was a captain on this shift a couple of years ago, so it’s quite an honor to be able to work with all of the team members in this new capacity.
Many of the members who are at the battalion chief level mentored me as I came through the ranks. I was fortunate to train and work in some capacity over the years with a number of the captains, engineers and firefighters. That puts an enormous amount of responsibility on me now as a leader to treat them all with the utmost respect while working to help them to achieve their hopes and dreams in the department.
I’m at a place in my career where I believe that I have the absolute best job in the department. I’m still riding the street, and that allows me to focus on the 100-plus teammates on the shift who I now serve to help to improve their professional lives, which in turn can help to improve their personal lives. It isn’t about me or my rank.
If you’re put in the same position as I am now, how do you help your teammates and ensure that you put them before yourself?"
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Leadership Lessons: Level of Responsibility, David Griffin, Firehouse, 2020