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

The good and bad reasons for staying in the fire service or leaving it behind
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Whether you envision a lifelong career or dream about hanging up your gear for the last time, be intentional with your time and service
'Fire Country' is a silly, soapy portrayal of wildland fire
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No one expects TV fire dramas to be documentaries, but the newest addition to the mix is so unrealistic that a CAL FIRE chief disavowed it
Judgment call: Sound judgment must exist at all levels of fire department culture
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Judgment is sometimes a matter of life or death, but it is also a matter of professional credibility
The impact of control – or lack of control – on chronic stress in firefighters
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Studies show that when members are given space to make consequential decisions with greater control, stress levels decrease
EMS response is often considered safer than firefighting, but is it?
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The dangers to EMTs/medics are less well known to the general public than firefighting, even at times to the agencies where they work
A personalized approach to ethical leadership
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The International Public Safety Leadership & Ethics Institute offers a guided program of self-discovery to develop a personal leadership approach
After-action reviews: A shift to the positive
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We need to go beyond what went wrong to include what went right – and why
Beyond paychecks and praise: Leaders must focus on multiple motivation styles
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Both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation are critical for keeping team members involved and prepared for the challenges they face
Institutional fire knowledge: Sharing what you know
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Whether you’ve been out of the fire service for five months or 15 years, your lived experiences remain valuable to the firefighters of today
Where to begin? How a new company officer should prioritize their workload
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Before you start checking boxes, focus first on building your team and fostering crew cohesion
‘Quiet quitting’: How fire officers can combat the phenomenon
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While the concept has been around for decades, it’s the buzzy term that’s prompted the recent focus on this approach to work
Surviving fire station ‘Siberia’: 2 keys to thriving at your department’s quiet station
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Leaders at less-active firehouses must strike a balance between training and downtime for crews
How compassion on the job leads to efficient outcomes on scene
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While every situation is different, most people are more receptive to a sympathetic approach than an authoritative command
Fire station civility: A key factor in member performance and retention
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In one study, “demonstrating respect” was identified as the top leadership quality for creating commitment and engagement among members
Embracing ‘neutral zones’: Where honest feedback finds creative solutions
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How to navigate that time after changes have been made but before the benefits have been realized
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