Proficiency Level of Leadership Competences on the Initial Training Course for Firefighters—A Case Study of Lisbon Fire Service

João Carolino,Carlos Rouco

doi:10.3390/fire5010022

Abstract

Leadership competence development in the Portuguese fire services is an area to be explored and one where we must obtain more profound knowledge. The research seeks to identify the role of the initial training course for professional firefighters in the proficiency level of leadership competences in trainees at the Lisbon Fire Service. To achieve the objectives of the investigation, the researchers adopted a quantitative method with a longitudinal case study research design, using a questionnaire of leadership competences, applied to 126 trainees of the Initial Training Course for professional firefighters from Lisbon Fire Service (case study), at three different moments during a one-year training period (longitudinal study). From the obtained results, it was concluded that the leadership competences with the highest level of proficiency at the end of the course are problem solving, participatory leadership, delegative leadership, conflict management, influence by example, task orientation, decision making, vision and proactivity.

Highlights

IntroductionCompetences are intrinsic characteristics that reflect the ability and capacity to perform an activity, regardless of the situation or environment [2], and they have a causal relationship to effective or superior performance, in each function or situation, within pre-defined criteria [3]
This study is a pioneer in the identification of the proficiency level of leadership competences in the ITCPF, and there are no other results from other authors; there will be a discussion focusing on the structure of the course and contents taught
Regarding a level of education presenting proficiency levels of leadership competences significantly different from others, the results indicate that trainees with higher education levels perceive significantly higher proficiency levels than others at every moment of the course

Summary

Introduction

Competences are intrinsic characteristics that reflect the ability and capacity to perform an activity, regardless of the situation or environment [2], and they have a causal relationship to effective or superior performance, in each function or situation, within pre-defined criteria [3] This set of behaviors are related to each other, which direct the individual to a certain action, and which defines their suitability to a specific situation [4], validated by the existing criteria to ensure that it is not merely a question of casuistic behavior cases [5]. Competences can be categorized into transversal or differentiating [3], and where the inputs that the individual brings into the organization and what is extracted from this competence, in terms of output, are considered [6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion