A few years back, one of the current chiefs from my former department asked several questions that all basically started with, “Is it true that…?”.
There were many goals that I accomplished as a fire chief, most of which were long out of my thoughts until prompted.
There is a good explanation for this, and it is not a result of aging, although, truthfully, one of the reasons for having the same meal each morning is in case someone asks if I remember what my breakfast was.
More importantly, the reason most of these things were not prominent in my mind arises from having a goal of accomplishments rather than credit.
There are plenty of folks in our business who have familiar names, frequently arising from self-promotion. Their information is at times accurate and technically correct yet often boring to the average provider.
I never had a goal of making my name a household word as opposed to producing results that ultimately benefit providers and their clientele. My name for this is the practice of quiet competence.
Over the past year, I edited and completely rewrote two sets of EMS guidelines for local agencies. In doing so, the products are a simplified format that is written for a street medic.
Regardless of what positions I have held, inside of me lies a field provider that has never forgotten how the moccasins felt while walking those miles.
I recently finished reading a book based on the tedious road to the development and ultimate acceptance of an important product that is now a standard component of trauma care.
The hurdles along the way pitted factual evidence versus influential preference. After a long and arduous journey, the facts won, but the credit was misappropriated.
While the product developer was perturbed that credit was claimed elsewhere, his partner pointed out that the end justified the means. It mattered less who got the credit and how acceptance came about than the fact that it did.
As a fire or EMS chief, it is likely that you report to an elected body or their representative. It is also common that at least some of them want or even need to take credit for accomplishments, regardless of how they arise.
Quiet competence involves the art of getting stuff done while not caring about who gets the credit.
Another way to title this would be the care and feeding of your elected officials. If your concerns are proper, then it pays to learn that how you (legally) achieve goals is secondary to accomplishing them.
There is a saying that doing a good job here, wherever that might be, is like wetting your pants in a dark suit; it gives you a warm feeling but nobody else notices.
Remember this as a central tenet of quiet competence; identify issues, plant seeds, walk away and ultimately smile when your goals are met while somebody else claims credit.
If money and fame are your goals, this is likely not the right profession. If you really want or need to be liked, get a dog.
If you want to live a life with both principles and accomplishments, learn to practice quiet competence.
