Telling Your Story

If you have sat at a firehouse kitchen table for any amount of time, you can back me up when I say firefighters love to tell stories. And more times than not, they embellish these stories. This works inside the firehouse, but doesn't always fit when telling your story to the public as a labor leader.

Being the communications person for my International Association of Fire Fighters local has been a trial by fire (pardon the pun). Luckily I have had some people take the time to educate me on how to communicate correctly to the public. As Mark Treglio will tell you, words matter. Jim Aleski will say your branding matters. And finally, Sean Carlin tells me to chill out with the commas and has to remind me what a proper noun is. So yes, communicating on behalf of your labor organization is much different from telling stories with your crew around the table.

When communicating with the public, speaking clearly and in a way they'll understand is essential. We also need to get straight to the point. Yes, supporting information is important depending on the topic, but don't make the topic more than it is.

Don't blow things out of proportion every time, or you'll look like the boy who cried wolf. For example, there might be a time to specify a ladder truck or heavy rescue is on the scene. But, if you're putting something out about an active incident, all you might need to say is there are firefighters on location. Don't drown us in details or jargon. And if speaking from the point of view of a labor organization, frame things about your members. Don't talk about equipment - talk about your people!

We also must maximize our communications. There is a thing where we can communicate too much or too little. Through peer review and experience, you learn some boundaries. You can establish a rapport with your community through educational communications and goodwill messages.

You want to show them you're the experts in your field. Public safety messages help with this and show that you care. Highlighting your interactions with your community will also show that you're their hometown, local emergency responders. And they show your members' commitment to serving - whether on duty or off.

When discussing an active incident, it's okay to thank the community for their investment in their emergency responders. Example: "Because of our community's investment in their safety, your 'Anytown' firefighters were able to bring this emergency scene under control quickly. 'Anytown' has nine firehouses strategically placed around the city, and firefighters were able to arrive quickly."

Telling your story clearly and correctly is essential. How you present that story - social media, press releases, websites, etc. - depends on the message you need to deliver. Take a few moments to ensure that your message is correct for the situation and that it will be perceived correctly.

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Josh Friedrich is a fire fighter/paramedic in Lewisville, TX and serves as the Secretary and Communications Manager for Lewisville Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 3606. Josh is the Director of Digital Advocacy at NEP Services where he works tirelessly as a resource for the fire service labor organizations they serve. Josh also is aware that leather helmets are forever, smooth-bore nozzles are king, and engine work is the Lord's work.