My leadership style is simple and human: be curious, set clear standards, and take care of my people. I don’t believe in performative toughness or “gotcha” leadership. If you’re trying, I’m all in with coaching, extra reps, honest feedback, and the tools to succeed. A Leadership Under Fire course gave me language for what I already felt: firefighting is a human endeavor. We can train like professionals, make smart decisions, and still face unfavorable outcomes we can’t control. On those hard days, curiosity and connection make us better; blame and shame only make us quiet and alone.
Curiosity shows up in how we train and talk. Inspired by the coaching mindset in “Ted Lasso”, I think it fits a firehouse perfectly. After a call, we walk through what happened, what we learned, and what we’ll do better or differently next time with an open-mind and without sarcasm or judgment. I want new firefighters to feel safe making mistakes during training and asking questions, and I want experienced members to feel appreciated for raising concerns and new ideas. That’s how small mistakes get caught early and good habits stick.
Accountability for rules, regulations, SOPs, and readiness is essential, but it only works when people have what they need. My job is to set expectations and remove barriers with relevant, organized training, working equipment, and clear roles on every incident. When something goes wrong, we fix the problem, learn the lesson, and move forward. The goal isn’t perfection; its measurable improvement built on a growth mindset and discipline.
Emotions aren’t a weakness, but silence is a risk. We say this job is a family, and I mean that. I check in, listen, and make space for the hard conversations. I care about mental health because I’ve seen what silence costs. I want anyone to feel comfortable telling me something without fear of judgment. I never want my crew to hide struggles or hesitate to ask for help; most problems can be solved with a conversation or targeted training, and it’s my job to help them navigate both.