I wonder how good of a leader I'll be if I ever get the chance permanently. To be honest, anyone can probably play the role of company officer for a shift here and there. Wing it. Sling it. And not be a complete slacker. But what about when you're the boss day in and day out?
I'd like to think that I would do well because I was an absolutely terrible rookie myself. The first half of my first year was spent being a lazy ass. I did what I needed to do... but not much else. I was the last to jump in on chores and never did anything that someone else might do first. It was not a good situation. Towards the end of my first year, I went to EMT school at a much larger neighboring department. They believe in a bit more discipline there and some of it rubbed off. It wasn't a decision that I made to be a better employee... It wasn't that someone told me that I had to shape up or else... It was that I saw there was a better way and decided to follow it because it seemed the right thing to do. Of course, that path doesn't work for everyone. It makes me wonder how I can motivate our newest guy towards a similar change of attitude.