Of all the organs in the body, not one works as hard as the heart. It is an organ that never rests, pumping blood 24 hours a day. If it stops working, the body dies. We even attribute feelings and emotions to it, saying things like, “Follow your heart” or “My heart’s not in it.” The heart truly is the core of our being, and if it becomes sick or ineffective, it threatens our lives.
Just as the heart is the most important organ in the body, the chief is the most important member of the department. The chief has the hardest job in the organization, one that is truly 24/7. The chief is the best indicator of the health of the department. If the chief is sickly or ineffective, the health of the department is at risk.
Communication: The lifeblood of leadership
The heart’s primary responsibility is to recirculate blood throughout the body. It pumps fresh, oxygenated blood out to the farthest extremities and accepts the stale blood in return. That stale blood is refreshed and made good again, then pumped back out. If the heart isn’t strong enough to send new blood to the fingers and toes, those limbs suffer and atrophy.
Similarly, communication is the “blood” of any organization, and it’s the chief’s primary job to push information out to the entire department — not just to select command team members at the top. Officers and civilian staff need to know what’s going on and why. They need to understand the department’s direction and their role in it. That “fresh blood” of communication keeps them engaged and productive.
The “stale blood” returning to the heart is also part of the communication process. The chief must hear feedback, questions and problems from the extremities and process them through their “heart.” By engaging resources to solve these issues, the chief can send solutions back out as “new blood” to the team. This constant, never-ending process ensures that successful departments fully engage their entire organization to achieve excellence in community service.
Removing blockages for better circulation
Sometimes in the human body, a blockage in a vein or artery restricts blood flow, requiring surgery. Similarly, organizations can face blockages in communication — whether it’s the chief failing to communicate effectively with employees or employees failing to communicate back. Identifying and removing these blockages is critical, and sometimes it requires organizational “surgery” to do so.
What happens if the chief doesn’t communicate effectively? In the absence of truth, people fill in the gaps and “make stuff up.” No one wants to be left out of the loop, so employees create their own narratives, often negative and inaccurate. Timely, accurate communication removes resistance and negativity, fostering a healthier workplace.
Sustaining the heart of leadership
The chief’s job is exhausting if done right. How can it be sustained? The answer lies in a “servant’s heart.” There’s not enough money, power, or fame to sustain the effort without a deeper purpose. A chief motivated by a genuine “heart” for their people and community can endure the often-thankless role.
Just as the human heart is embedded within the chest and invisible to the outside world, a chief’s motivation must come from within. A department’s health reflects the performance of its chief. Is the chief fully engaged? Are resources utilized at all levels? Does communication flow throughout the department? Are feedback and concerns from the team valued and acted upon?
The power of shared leadership
The human body has one heart, but imagine if it had more. What if every supervisor acted as a “heart,” helping pump blood effectively at their level? Lieutenants and captains could add pressure to the circulation of communication, making the process easier on the chief. By sharing the burden, the organization could create a healthier, more resilient department.
How is your chief “heart” performing? What steps can you take to improve your department’s overall health?
