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 through her company, RealWorld Training and Consulting. She is also an adjunct instructor and curriculum advisor with the National Fire Academy. Willing is the author of On the Line: Women Firefighters Tell Their Stories. 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.

Full list of Linda Willing results

Fire service data: How to employ 2 kinds of data for effective problem-solving
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Gathering data for inspection and data for learning must be seen as a positive tool rather than as a way of potentially punishing someone
False alarms and fraternities: The importance of solving problems upstream
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With their nuisance call assumptions found to be incorrect, officers take a new approach to solve the problem
The power of the ‘inside-outsider’: Clear-eyed observations that can change everything
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Where to find those people who have just the right connection to make systemic or cultural change in an organization
The case for space: Many firefighters want more privacy at the station
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Firefighters can still achieve crew camaraderie without communal space living situations
Gossip at the firehouse: How to enable ‘good gossip’ and shut down negativity
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Three questions to ask before talking about your brother and sister firefighters
Meet Austin Weishel: Firefighter and professional sculptor
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Weishel has created numerous sculptures to honor fire, police and military services
A faded lesson from 9/11
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When we say, "Never forget," we need to remember, and live the too-soon-forgotten aftereffects of the Sept. 11 attacks
The contamination is coming from within the building
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How to protect firefighters from in-station hazards, like asbestos, mold and vermin
The opportunity to serve: How the ADA changed the fire service
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The ADA allows potential firefighters to be judged on what they can do, not on what others perceive their capabilities to be
Firefighters and the bystander effect: The problem with staying silent
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Milwaukee FD incident raises questions as to why members didn’t speak up about offensive act in the station
Compass project helps first responders focus on wellness
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West Virginia’s opioid crisis sparks launch of initiatives to support mental and physical health among fire and police personnel
Doing nothing is not nothing: Learn the skills to stand up and speak out
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Breaking a groupthink mentality requires two key skills – and support from leadership
3 keys to passing fire officer exams
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As with any test, learning as much as you can about the test-giver, the test and yourself will pay big rewards
Standing up or going along: How the fear of being shunned impacts our choices
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Reflecting on why other officers didn’t speak up during George Floyd’s detainment
Time-traveling to remember your pre-COVID-19 priorities
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Don’t let the current crisis destroy your previously identified individual goals and departmental priorities
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