Please Suck Less

If you read any NIOSH report you will find that a lack of communications was a factor in most firefighters injuries or death. In business poor communications can cost money and people their jobs. Being a skilled communicator is an art. You have to be a good talker, but more importantly you have to be a good listener. You have to put your ego in check and be open to what others have to say.

In this episode I talk with Battalion Chief Sam Villani about talking with your people and listening them. The power of accurate fire ground communications and empowering your people to speak up and share their thoughts and ideas.

My guest Clay Anderson talks about being a servant leader and having a good dose of humility. Clay is active in the Navy and working on his Masters Degree in Leadership. He gives his views on servant leadership and humility. A servant leader displays the following characteristics:

• Empowerment
• Standing back
• Humility
• Authenticity
• Courage
• Accountability
• Interpersonal Acceptance
• Stewardship

Just to name a few.

This month I have a great conversation with Robert James (RJ) about training getting buy in from your shift and passing on what you have learned and motivating you people.  RJ is a career firefighter in the DC Metro area and the President and founder of Capitol Fire Training LLS. RJ has dedicated his fire service life in learning the craft honing his skills and passing on what he has learned to the next generation. 

I am joined once again with my good friend Sam Villani. Sam and I talk about how to encourage your people.  Leaders say "I take care of my people" but do they walk the walk  or just talk the talk.

Taking care of them when they are down, boosting their confidence and letting them take the lead. 

As a leader it is important to build your people up and get them ready for the next level in their careers. Treat your people as if they are the most important part of the organization. 

This month I had the pleasure of talking to (ret) Battalion Chief Anthony Kastros. Anthony is the author of Mastering the Fire Service Assessment Center and Understanding Unified Command. In this show we talk about succession planning and building up the new firefighters and line officers to one day take your position.  Anthony explains mentoring, training, getting ready for you next promotional exam and leading using the Incident Command System.

Fire Chief Tom Coe talks about his journey in the fire service as a rookie to becoming the Fire Chief and what leadership lessons he has learned along the way.

I sit down with my good friend and fellow Capitol Fire Training instructor (ret) FDNY Capt. Tony Tricarico. We discuss training, keeping your guys engauged, leading by example and protecting your shift from upper management.

In this episode (ret)Command Master Chief and Navy SEAL Jason Gardner talks about his past experiences as a SEAL and a Leader. In his 30 plus year career he honed his skills as a leader by understanding humility, relationship building and keep the ego in check.

I have the pleasure of speaking to my good friend Frank Ricci. Frank and I Co-host a radio show called Politics and Tactics for Fire engineering.

In this episode we talk about making change, listening, being humble and keeping your ego in check. All are great traits to have if you want to be an effective leader.

To be a good leader you need to connect with your people. My guest is my good friend Sam Villani. This episode we talking about

1. connecting with the people who work for you, I reference the book "The Military Leader" By Andrew Steadman. We touch on a few points the author writes about.

2. We close out with, setting expectations for your shift.