Developing Firefighters, Clarity Creates Competence

The Five Prioritized Responsibilities That Changed My Career “Clarity doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from understanding your role and responsibilities and establishing a system, with proven priorities to fulfill them.” In Part One, I asked what it really means to be a professional firefighter. My answer was simple: professionalism is not a label we […]

One Team: Building Trust Before the Call

When an active shooter, natural disaster, or other large-scale emergency strikes a community, the public does not see separate police, fire, and emergency medical services. They see first responders. They expect us to work together, solve the problem, and save lives.

Reflections from a Retired Firefighter

I hear other retirees say YOU HAD A GOOD RUN, YOU LEFT THE DEPARTMENT BETTER THEN WHEN YOU CAME ON, MOVE ON AND ENJOY THE NEXT CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE. All sensible advice.

Developing Professional Firefighters

“The ideas in this series weren’t developed in a classroom. They were shaped over more than three decades as a firefighter, truck captain, academy instructor, football coach, and student of leadership and the craft.