Using the FORD Approach to Team-Building

by Randy Toms Executive Director Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council

I once heard a story from a wise friend and advisor about building and rebuilding a team.

The story went something like this: “Mr. Randy, my family has been driving Ford trucks for as long as I can remember. My Grandfather drove Ford Trucks, my father drove Ford trucks, my uncles, brothers, and everybody in my family drove Ford trucks. I drive Ford trucks. "We like and believe in Ford trucks. The thing about a Ford truck is that if the motor goes out in a Ford truck it can usually be fixed. Sometimes it is a minor repair and sometimes you must rebuild it. However, Sometimes the damage is so great that you must replace it.”

He went on to say that when you are building a team of people coming in as the new leader you must remember a few things: Some people are running like a well-oiled machine, and you just need to keep them moving in the right direction.

Some people will need a few minor adjustments and given the necessary direction.

Some people will need more attention. Those people will need to be rebuilt or retrained to be able to move in the right direction.

Lastly, some people are so damaged from lack of direction, improper maintenance, negligence or rough conditions that they simply must be replaced.

The leader will not be required to inform them of the need to replace them. They will realize on their own that they do not possess the ability to continue in the direction of the leader and the team.

These words of wisdom have proven to be both accurate and inspirational. I have used this illustration in many conversations since they have been passed on to me. Therefore,

I feel it is appropriate to construct an acronym using the word Ford as a motivation for the GFSTC rebuilt and newly formed team to draw from for the future mission.

The acronym for FORD is:

• F- Fearless

• O- Optimistic

• R- Reliable

• D- Dedicated

Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council is committed to strive towards the goal of following the FORD acronym in our service delivery strategy.

GFSTC will endeavor to:

1. Fearlessly face every situation with integrity, honesty and dependability.

2. Optimistically seek the correct answer for every situation.

“Try to say yes.”

3. Reliably meet the situation with the highest quality of customer service.

4. Dedicatedly set an unmatched standard of customer service and live up to that standard.

There has never been a better time in the history of GFSTC to recommit to a standard of excellence in customer service.

The customer for GFSTC in the Fire Service for the State of Georgia, of which we are a part. It is a high honor to be a part of the fire service and to serve the fire service and we should meet that challenge with our very best.

We will work together, as a team, to meet every situation and challenge fearlessly, optimistically, reliably and dedicatedly to provide superior customer service.

GFSTC has been deeply involved in training on the new Acadis system. We are getting very close to launching the system in areas throughout the State.

We believe this new system is going to revolutionize GFSTC and the fire service in Georgia. The biggest need we have in the new Acadis system is to stress the importance of every member of the Georgia Fire Service to have an updated email address on file.

Please make sure that everyone checks and make sure that the correct email address is in our current database for you. GFSTC will continue striving to be the service-oriented agency the fire service needs us to be.