If we were to ask fire and EMS chiefs to identify the five most important skills they must bring to the table in order to serve their communities most effectively, the ability to navigate political environments would surely be on that list.
Yet if asked to assess their level of expertise for each skill set, most would report that political acumen is the one they're least adept at or feel comfortable with.
During the panel discussion at the FRI 2014 general session, one of the panelists said about himself and all fire chiefs, "We're all politicians now."
Respectfully, we disagree that this must—or even should—be the case. In this series of articles, we'll provide four sets of proven suggestions and tips that will help you hone your ability to be political without being a politician.