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Linda Willing

Leading the Team

Linda Willing is a retired career fire officer and currently works with emergency services agencies and other organizations on issues of leadership development, decision-making and diversity management. She was an adjunct instructor and curriculum advisor with the National Fire Academy for over 20 years. Willing is the author of On the Line: Women Firefighters Tell Their Stories and was co-founder of Women in the Fire Service. Willing has a bachelor’s degree in American studies, a master’s degree in organization development and is a certified mediator. She is a member of the FireRescue1/Fire Chief Editorial Advisory Board. Connect with Willing via email.

LATEST ARTICLES
The International Public Safety Leadership & Ethics Institute offers a guided program of self-discovery to develop a personal leadership approach
We need to go beyond what went wrong to include what went right – and why
Before you start checking boxes, focus first on building your team and fostering crew cohesion
While the concept has been around for decades, it’s the buzzy term that’s prompted the recent focus on this approach to work
Leaders at less-active firehouses must strike a balance between training and downtime for crews
While every situation is different, most people are more receptive to a sympathetic approach than an authoritative command
In one study, “demonstrating respect” was identified as the top leadership quality for creating commitment and engagement among members
How to navigate that time after changes have been made but before the benefits have been realized
While it sometimes makes sense to go along to get along, the lone voice of dissent often provides meaningful insight
While non-fire-specific training can be beneficial, trainers who fail to understand the needs of first responders will lose their interest