6 minute read
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
HEALTH
EMOTIONAL THE SILENT STRENGTH OF A FIREFIGHTER INTELLIGENCE
By Luke Vandermeer
The word we most naturally associate with
firefighters is strength. Most people would assume that strength refers to the physical ability to carry heavy equipment and pull people to safety – and they’d be right. But while that’s a major requirement, there are other types of strengths that are equally or even more important to a firefighter. And
topping that list is emotional intelligence or Emotional Quotient (EQ).
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IS OFTEN DEFINED AS “THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE, USE, UNDERSTAND, MANAGE AND HANDLE EMOTIONS”
It’s a term that’s been around since the early 1960s, but it wasn’t until the mid-nineties that it became widely known, largely thanks to Daniel Goleman’s bestselling book “Emotional Intelligence." How can you tell if you or someone has a high level of EQ? Such people are highly in tune with their emotional states, both positive and negative. They can readily
identify the emotion they’re experiencing and can manage and react appropriately,
both internally and externally. Clearly, being able to regulate an emotion such as anxiety is critical for a firefighter.
EMOTIONALLY QUICK SCALE (EQS)
Emotions play an integral part in our lives and our decision making. How quickly we are able to consciously identify our feelings impacts how effectively we manage ourselves and situations. With regular practice we can move through the EQS stages to become ever more aware of when our emotions are affecting our thoughts and actions. Where do you sit on the scale?
STAGE 3 STAGE 4
STAGE 2
STAGE 1
E.Q.S.
STAGE 5
STAGE 6 STAGE 1
STAGE 2
STAGE 3
STAGE 4
STAGE 5
STAGE 6
BLIND
DELAYED
POST
DURING
EN ROUTE
PRESCIENT
NEVER CONSCIOUSLY IDENTIFY YOUR FEELINGS complete lack of awareness leading to repeatedly poor situation management
REALISING LONG AFTER THE EVENT A FEELING WAS PRESENT too late to affect the original situation but enables the possibility of action to “try to put things right" (e.g. an apology or to express views previously kept in)
REALISING STRAIGHT AFTER THE EVENT this may prevent feelings festering and could help provide a quick rectification of the situation (for both you and the other person)
CONSCIOUSLY RECOGNISE THE FEELING DURING THE EVENT this mental recognition provides a measure of control over the feeling, allowing you to choose to adapt your behaviour at the time
SENDING THAT FIRST SEED OF AN EMOTION BUILDING from its first inception - as you know it is coming, you can quickly prepare for it
KNOWING THE SITUATION WILL GENERATE FEEINGS IN ADVANCE you know in advance that a situation will generate feelings and you take steps to prepare as best as possible for them
Emotionally intelligent individuals are also more tuned in to the feelings of others and
are able to easily “read the room”. If the moods of others signal to you when it may not be appropriate to launch your “A drunk walks into a bar…” joke, or if you’re able to know that now isn’t the time to suggest that a struggling family member get “a real job”, you probably have a good level of emotional intelligence. Not surprisingly, we are often drawn to people with high levels of emotional intelligence because they tend to make better friends, partners, spouses and leaders. If this doesn’t sound like you, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have a low level of EQ - but here are a few warning signs to watch for: People
with low levels of emotional intelligence tend to be more argumentative, have lower quality relationships and generally poorer
emotional coping skills. Consider the above chart, provided by Six Seconds – The Emotional Intelligence Network.
How do these levels of emotional intelligence translate into strength (or the lack thereof) for firefighters?
Firefighting can be a very emotional occupation, so a generous level of EQ, both at work and at home, is key. Firefighters are trained to react in any dangerous situation they encounter, but they are also trained to control their “humanity." A life-
threatening occurrence will still generate a human emotional reaction, and when anxiety starts to take hold, it becomes necessary to regulate it.
FIREFIGHTERS ARE DEDICATED TO SAVING PEOPLE. THEY WANT TO HELP AND REASSURE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THEIR DARKEST HOURS THAT THINGS WILL BE OKAY. THEY NEED TO BE KIND
AND PATIENT, AND ABLE TO PROJECT A SENSE OF POSITIVITY, NO MATTER HOW BLEAK THE SITUATION.
A high level of EQ is also important for creating good relationships with our coworkers. Every firefighter needs to know
not only how they will react in any given situation, but also how their team will react
– and what the signs of those reactions may be. Making a quick adjustment based on a reading of how your partner is feeling could save their life, your life, or the life of someone you’re trying to help.
While emotional intelligence is a very important skill on the job, it’s equally necessary outside the hall for a strong firefighter. Sadly, not every shift will be a good one, and there can be a slew of emotions to be handled when the helmet is hung up and the boots are taken off. That’s the true test of a firefighter’s emotional intelligence.
It's hard for anyone to not take home their workday emotions, but for firefighters whose feelings can be both intense and negative, it’s especially difficult. That’s why it’s so important to stay in tune with our emotions, know why we’re experiencing them and have strategies to cope with them.
Being unable to cope with the emotional takeaway of the job can have a negative impact on many aspects of your life.
You could have trouble sleeping, become irritable and begin to find it hard to feel the joy in your own life. You might start to dread the events that may be waiting for you when you put the boots on next. Those feelings can transfer to our relationships, creating arguments and preventing
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT 6SECONDS.ORG
good communication. Before long, you might find yourself resentful of both the professional and personal parts of your life and unable to cope with your emotions. That’s when the grave you’re digging will start getting deeper.
ARE YOU WORRIED THAT POOR COPING SKILLS COULD BE PART OF YOUR PERSONALITY? DOES THAT MEAN YOU’RE CHAINED TO A LIFE OF LOW EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE? THANKFULLY NO!
There is a way to develop more EQ, and it starts with putting a label on emotions when you feel them. Remember the old saying: sometimes in life, you need to slow down to go fast. If you want to learn how to react successfully to the onslaught of emotions you feel as a firefighter and build your EQ, you might first need to slow down. Focus on the emotions you’re experiencing and be clear about what they mean to your well-being.
A firefighter’s job is to be strong, but it’s not all about muscle. Emotional intelligence can be one of the biggest but quietest strengths that you need, not only to save a life today, but also to make sure you’re
