Daniel Peterson

Former GE CEO Jack Welch once said, “Before you are a leader, success is all about you growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” This embodies the idea of servant leadership, wherein a leader prioritizes the needs and well-being of those they lead. A fire department leader of this type inspires and enables growth in their members. Their members, being confident of the leader’s care and concern for them, will be motivated to perform their best. In my department, this wholesome relationship between leadership and frontline personnel will improve morale, lead to a process of continuous improvement, and increase the knowledge and skill of the members, with the end result being improved service to the community.