Ethics for Leading with Integrity
How to Avoid Your Program Landing
on the Front Page of the Paper for
the WRONG Reasons!
Candice McDonald, Ohio State Advocate
•
Recovering Social Worker
•
Volunteer Firefighter/EMT
•
Lifetime Learner!! College Grad x’s 3! •
State of Ohio – Marketing Guru •
Consultant – Grant Writer & National Trainer
•
Mom of THREE fantastic kids
•
Married to half a nurse!
Candice McDonald ‐ mycdevelopment@gmailcom ‐ (330) 831‐2867
Today’s Topics…..
Behavior
Social Media
Code of Ethics
Ethics refers to how well one lives up to the integrity of the relationship within which one acts. All actions gain their ethical meaning through the context, the purpose and the intent of actions within the relational boundaries of one’s actions.
Rule of Thumb
Don’t do anything you wouldn’t
want to see on the front page of
the newspaper – Judge Pike
Volunteer Behavior STANDARDS OF PERSONAL BEHAVIOR
Reputation Management www.firefighterbehavior.com
This is Just WRONG!
Examples of Firefighter/Fire Service‐Related Incidents:
The Wrong Kind of Exposure!
Cheating on Qualifying Exams
“Cheating Scandal Rocks State Fire Academy” • “Fire Training Ripe for Cheating” • “Cheating Scandal Leads to New EMT Test” • “Cheating by Recruit Roils Fire‐Rescue: Ex‐Instructor Denies Giving Answers; Some Fault Chief”
Firefighter Arson
“When Heroes Turn Into Outlaws; Firefighters’ Arson Arrests Raise Complex Questions” • “Firefighter Arsons Raise Questions About Screening Volunteers” • “3 Years for Pyro Fireman”
Theft of Fire Department Funds
“Bookkeeper Admits Embezzling $1.6M from Estacada Fire District” • “Former Assistant Chief Pleads Guilty in Embezzlement Case” • “Fire Chief Given Prison Sentence for Embezzlement” • “Former California Dispatcher Arrested for Embezzlement”
Misuse of Department Equipment
“Firefighters Busted Looking at Porn on County Computers” • “Firefighter Accused of Downloading Child Porn at Fire House” • “Fire Department Spying on Firefighters at Night” • “Two Former Volunteer Firefighters Arrested in Case of Fire Equipment Thefts”
Misuse of Department Facilities
“Woman Sues City, Claiming Injuries in Fire Pole Fall” • “Seven Firemen Dismissed for Sex on Duty” • “Photo Shoot at Fire Station Gets Too Hot” • “Sex Scandals Turn Up Heat on Fire Chief” • “Depositions Begin in Firehouse Sex Case” Mayor, Police and Fire Chiefs to be Questioned”
Alcohol Use
“Firefighters say drinking common at stations” • “2 Firefighters Are Among 5 Facing Charges in Bar Brawl” • “Firefighters’ Autopsies Show Drugs, Alcohol, Two Officials Say” • “Firefighter Alcohol Abuse a National Concern” • “Firefighter Sentenced for Shooting at Fire Station”
Substance Abuse by Members
“Fire Chief Says Security Protocols Tightened after Firefighter‐
Paramedic’s (Drug) Arrest” • “Cops Arrest Firefighter for Steroids” • “Cops Say Firefighter Had Dope in Fire department Car” • “Firefighter Suspended With Pay after Arrest for Cocaine”
Harassment and Discrimination
“Firefighter’s Harassment Lawsuit Settled for $1.4M” • “Firefighter Wins $6.2 Million Harassment Case” • “Audit Finds Harassment, Discrimination Still Plague Fire Department” • “Fire Captain Must Pay Firefighter $2500 in Harassment Suit”
Unethical Behavior Cost Time and Resources
Fire Corps Member Behavior
How to address inappropriate behavior with Fire Corps volunteers
Bad Behaviors in Disguise:
The Poison Apples
The Dominator
The Clueless
The Waste of Space
The Flame Thrower
Disruptive Individuals
The Dominator
This type of volunteer is in constant reactive mode and is a poor listener. She likes to create urgency because if she solves the urgent problem, she can be a heroine. This style is often viewed as controlling, opinionated, and egotistical. The person wants to "just get the job done with the best solution" — which, of course, has already been expressed by the Dominator.
Stratton, S. (2005, February). The exasperated ceo's guide to troubleshooting bad board behavior. Retrieved from http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/EUArticle.cfm?ItemNumber=11515 Disruptive Individuals
The Flame Thrower
The Flame Thrower appears to have no impulse control or self‐discipline. He often makes outrageous statements, promotes gossip, and is driven to comment on every contribution. This style of member may be the most likely candidate for identification as "troublesome," since he exhibits unfocused, unpredictable, moody, and narcissistic behaviors.
Stratton, S. (2005, February). The exasperated ceo's guide to troubleshooting bad board behavior. Retrieved from http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/EUArticle.cfm?ItemNumber=11515 Disruptive Individuals
The Naysayer
This member is critical of almost any idea or solution offered, turning complaining and whining into new art forms. A Naysayer often rolls his eyes, shakes his head, or inhales loudly with dramatic flair but offers little to advance the conversation. He prefers simply to throw a wet blanket on every idea.
Stratton, S. (2005, February). The exasperated ceo's guide to troubleshooting bad board behavior. Retrieved from http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/EUArticle.cfm?ItemNumber=11515 Disruptive Individuals
The Clueless
The Clueless member enthuses group service because he can help "get the right things done," but he has no idea how to go about governing an organization. He comes to the group with one or two issues, which suck up endless discussion time meeting after meeting. The person's narrow focus is an obsession in his life, and he draws it into every conversation. He also misinterprets group materials related to his pet issues and fails to read unrelated group materials prior to the meeting, which results in unpreparedness.
Stratton, S. (2005, February). The exasperated ceo's guide to troubleshooting bad board behavior. Retrieved from http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/EUArticle.cfm?ItemNumber=11515 Disruptive Individuals Solutions
How do we rid the poison?
One Minute Manager
Ken Blanchard, PhD
One Minute Reprimand – Reprimand and Reassurance • Reprimand immediately and specifically
• It enables an understanding of responsibilities and how to complete them correctly
• Shake hands and remind the person of their value and that you like them, just not their performance
Disruptive Individuals Your Turn
How do we rid the poison?
Disruptive Individuals
The Dominator
This type of volunteer is in constant reactive mode and is a poor listener. She likes to create urgency because if she solves the urgent problem, she can be a heroine. This style is often viewed as controlling, opinionated, and egotistical. The person wants to "just get the job done with the best solution" — which, of course, has already been expressed by the Dominator.
The Flame Thrower
The Flame Thrower appears to have no impulse control or self‐discipline. He often makes outrageous statements, promotes gossip, and is driven to comment on every contribution. This style of member may be the most likely candidate for identification as "troublesome," since he exhibits unfocused, unpredictable, moody, and narcissistic behaviors.
The Naysayer
This member is critical of almost any idea or solution offered, turning complaining and whining into new art forms. A Naysayer often rolls his eyes, shakes his head, or inhales loudly with dramatic flair but offers little to advance the conversation. He prefers simply to throw a wet blanket on every idea.
The Clueless
The Clueless member enthuses group service because he can help "get the right things done," but he has no idea how to go about governing an organization. He comes to the group with one or two issues, which suck up endless discussion time meeting after meeting. The person's narrow focus is an obsession in his life, and he draws it into every conversation. He also misinterprets group materials related to his pet issues and fails to read unrelated group materials prior to the meeting, which results in unpreparedness.
Stratton, S. (2005, February). The exasperated ceo's guide to troubleshooting bad board behavior. Retrieved from http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/EUArticle.cfm?ItemNumber=11515 Social Media
Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t want plastered on a billboard with your face on it. Erin Bury, Community Manager at Sprouter, erinbury.com
“Social Media usage comes with a lot of responsibility. The proper usage may be beneficial to the user (employee) and the department. However, improper usage can have instant and long term damage to the perception of the department and the user.” – The Fire Critic
The Fire Critic. (2010, November 29). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://firecritic.com/2010/11/29/the‐fire‐critics‐school‐of‐hard‐knocks‐policy‐on‐social‐media/
Types of Social Media “I hear YouTube, Twitter and Facebook are merging to form a super‐social media site – YouTwitFace.” – Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show, June 2nd, 2009.
Social Media Policy
What is prohibited? Freedoms?
Code of Ethics Adopting the National Firefighter Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics, Why?
» To define what is acceptable behavior and what is not for our volunteers
» To promote a high standard of practice within your organization
» To create a framework for professional behavior and responsibilities » To create a brand based on integrity
» To provide a benchmark for volunteers for evaluation
Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association
Adopting it for Fire Corps
• Why should we adopt the National Firefighter Code of Ethics?
• How do we adopt the National Firefighter Code of Ethics to Fire Corps programs?
Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful – Author Unknown • What happens to violators?
Questions?
May the ethical force be with you!