When I was younger, my father accepted a job as a senior executive at the Forschner Group, more commonly known as Victorinox, the manufacturer of the popular Swiss Army knife.  When Christmas came around, I was beyond ecstatic when I unwrapped a brand-new SwissCamp, a multi-function tool that could solve any problem that presented itself.  It had two knives, scissors, pliers, a file, wood saw, magnifying glass, and an assortment of other attachments.  With its distinguished fire engine red color, Victorinox knives gained incredible brand recognition and market value.  It was also “cool” to have one; mine even came engraved with my name.  My multi-function compact toolbox never left my side.

America’s fire service is commonly referred to as the Swiss Army knife of public safety.  Whatever the problem, firefighters have the ability to overcome just about anything.  This skill is refined by training and experience but I also believe it is the unique characteristics of our people that make us incredibly passionate, caring, and talented at what we do.  Firefighters come from diverse backgrounds and often have other full-time or part-time jobs that blend perfectly into the collective knowledge of our departments.  When Mrs. Smith calls, we can solve anything from a leaking pipe, a chirping alarm, or pushing through a smoke filled hallway to find the seat of a fire.

Strong leaders recognize that the most valuable asset of their organization is its people.  Authentic leaders are self-aware, genuine, and lead with their heart, not just their minds.  Successful leaders are able to use the strengths of each member of their team to accomplish their organization’s mission; they coach, mentor, and train the next generation of leaders to lead the organization into the future.

Various temperament and personality tests have shown that people fit into dominant categories.  Some people look for the adrenaline rush in life and seek out extreme activities such as skydiving and rock climbing, and are naturally competitive and extroverts.  Others put great value on authority and rules, traditions, and authority (if the party invitation says 5 p.m., you better not show up late).  Other people are primarily relationship-driven and absolutely despise conflict or hurtful bantering.  I am sure we all know of someone that loves solving technical problems and aren’t afraid to break open (or may have even written) the manual.

I encourage leaders to learn more about their personality profiles and that of the members of their team.  Throughout life, everyone begins to develop their own filter on how they view themselves, their friends/colleagues, and the world.  Firefighters bring a wide variety of skillsets to the “job,” one of the most valuable being their unique approach to solving problems and being part of the team.  By fully understanding our profiles, we can become better communicators and strengthen our team.

For the record, my dominant PACE® Pallet color is blue.

Note: this article appeared in the March/April issue of the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association magazine. For other articles by leading fire service professionals, join the MSFCA today! Magazine memberships are available!