Developing a Training Program to Improve Communication Skills among Fire Officials in Managerial Roles: Insights from a Generational Gap Perception Survey

Abstract

This study developed and evaluated an educational program tailored to improve the communication skills of fire officials in managerial roles, drawing from insights gathered through a survey on perception of generation gap among fire officials. The final program was modularized into communication-style exploration, listening and empathy, emotional reflection, intergenerational conversations, and contextual conversation techniques. A program consisting of eight 50 min sessions was conducted exclusively within the experimental group. The communication abilities and levels of self-reflection among both experimental and control groups were measured before and after the program. The study noted that communication and self-reflection abilities of the experimental group improved significantly compared to those of the control group. Notably, the program's components were derived from survey results on the perception of generational differences among fire officials. In addition, the study underscored the effectiveness of the program in improving communication abilities and fostering better generational relationships among managerial staff. This highlights the potential of educational programs that consider generational differences to contribute to the cultural development and performance improvement of fire service organizations.