Kitchen Table Leadership Conversations

Battalion Chief John Lovato Jr. of the City of St. Myers Fire Department in Florida talks about chasing your own experience and don't wait around for it. The author of Fix your Firehouse, founder of Brotherhoodcoaching.com, and host of the John Lovato Show, chief says you are either winning or you are learning! Always remember that being curious and having conversations are both learned skills.

Fire Chief Matthew Love of the St. Cloud Fire Department discusses the “WP" or the Whole Package of Leadership,” including Servant leadership. The whole package includes being an 1) effective leader, 2) effective manager and 3) having a servant's heart. New FFs and new Leaders must open themselves up to be led & to be mentored! It's important to remember that when you lead out of love, you are developing a whole person. Be the leader that changes peoples lives. Leadership is about the long game!

Operations Chief Steve Lea of Cocoa Beach Fire Department in Florida discusses the importance of empowering your people. Get outside your department, learn from everywhere and bring it back to your department. Culture change can start from the bottom. Ego is the enemy!

Operations Chief Nick Langlow of Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One talks the human skills of leadership. Not every organization has the unicorn leaders. Some have great leaders, some have great managers. Organizations need both. Prepare for the job you want, prepare for the job you have, but don't think you are going to have it all figured out. You'll never be able to prepare for everything, leaders have flaws and are always learning. Young leaders should continue to push the leaders above them to lead them. Mentoring and developing your people is NOT optional!

Deputy Fire Chief Steven Dubay (ret.). of Colorado Springs Fire Department's emphasizes to all leaders to "Never Stop Learning." Feedback is a gift. Look in the mirror and look at yourself first when trying to become your best self. Know your strengths, know your weaknesses, take advantage of opportunities, always be open-minded and learn from everywhere!

Deputy Chief Michael DeStefano of Jupitor Fire Rescue Department dives into Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, specifically for firefighters. He talks about the inverted pyramid as leaders serving others, as well as the "How can I help you culture," striving to wow all customers, internal and external. Leaders should be thinking of Maslow's hierarchy when developing policy, at the negotiation table and whenever you are leading!

Assistant Chief John Payne of Bremerton Fire Department discusses individual leadership growth and becoming the leader you are supposed to be, not the leader that someone else is. Lead "your way" and understand that there are leadership lessons everywhere around you. Find them, extract them, and use what works for you! Leaders should "Provide Vision and Allow Action!"

Fire Chief Chris Tubbs of Southern Marin Fire District in California, dives into Delivering Public Value in a Tribalistic Culture – the Role and Responsibility of Leaders. We talk the intersection of public value and culture, as well as the 4 C's of leadership - Character, Credibility, Curiosity & Courage. “It is not the critic who counts; not the person who points out how one stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena!"

Lieutenant General Jack Rives of the United States Air Force and Executive Director of the American Bar Association dives deep into leadership being much more than just a title. You must always hold people accountable and lead by example. There are no good leaders out there who are not good listeners, emerging leaders learn so much more when you take the time to listen to your people. In the words of General George S. Patton, "You are aways on parade."

Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Shaw of the Town of Jupiter Fire Rescue Department talks about the weight of our words and how what you say is as important as anything. Your actions must match your words, you never know what you'll get unless you ask, and every leader should adopt the plus +1 mentality! Don't do things by yourself. Succession plan and bring others up with you to develop that strong team! Make conversations the norm, not the exception. Default to dialogue and take every opportunity to have a discussion with your people!

Captain Spencer Davis of Norfolk Fire & Rescue along with previous Kitchen Table guest Battalion Chief Jarrod Sergi join the show today to talk about forming a team, building and maintaining credibility, getting out of your comfort zone and a whole lot more. Leaders must build relationships, immerse themselves in the culture, and study the craft each and every day. Remember that leadership is just another discipline. You must continuously hone the skill and sharpen it, because just like any other skill, you can lose your effectiveness without doing so.

FDIC 2022 Keynote Speaker and co-author of 25 to Survive: Reducing Residential Injury and LODD, Assistant Chief of Operations Dan Shaw (ret.) talks the "Command Mindset," and Mission First, People Always! Stuck on what to train on? Train on these 7 categories: 1) Communications, 2) Positioning, NOT parking, 3) Water supplies, 4) Hose lines, 5) Ladders, 6) Search & Rescue and 7) Ventilation. Leaders must put their ego's aside and be able to receive feedback as well as give feedback. Always remember that "The Fire Always Gets a Vote!"

Founder of the Leadership Crucible Foundation, Fire Chief Randy Bruegman emphasizes the need to "Pay it forward, leave it better, and do the right thing even if it's hard." The best leaders are change managers, they learn how to have courageous conversations, understand strategic change and invest in building a positive culture. Chief also talks about diversity, inclusiveness, opportunity and accountability. When you get the badge, you are a success, but it does not mean you are significant. Aspire to live a life and a career of significance!

Dr. and Fire Chief Eric Saylors of El Cerrito/Kensington Fire Department talks about the fundamental principle of leadership; a positive succession plan, guiding future leaders to replace the current ones. Chief dives into the "Succession Project," his 3 traits of strong leaders: 1) Empathy, 2) Adaptability and 3) Resilience, and his non-negotiable, "Breaches of discipline." "Early winners don't make good leaders!" The greatest leaders get knocked down over and over again, but get right back up and move forward.

Division Chief Heather Marques of Alameda County Fire Department encourages leaders to lead with love. Leadership is influence! Try to default to positivity, Understanding Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs will help leaders better understand the needs of the people they lead. From her thesis paper, "Working Fire: Recruitment & Retention of Women Firefighters," Chief Marques discusses the 4 quadrants of concern for retention of women firefighters : 1) Physical challenges 2) Work-home sociocultural factors ,3) Family planning and 4) Promotional challenges. "Ancora Imparo," I am still learning."

Division Chief David Stone of South Walton Fire District dives deep into what Emotional Intelligence is and what leaders can do to incorporate these importance characteristics into their leadership development! Chief also talks about why negativity and complaining is so easy for leaders and how a positive mindset is a must in a strong leader. Be the leader you've always wanted, and start by being a servant leader!

Fire Chief Shannon Stone of Midway Fire District talks company officer leadership, adversity, high performing teams and cultures. Are you a leader who sees problems or sees opportunities? Leaders must be good at teaching and sharing information. They should be an expert at their job and every job below theirs. Always put others before yourself, study servant leadership and study human behavior. Anyone who knows how to effectively communicate will get more out of life.

Fire Chief Dave McGlynn within Federal Fire and Emergency Services talks all things training. We are talking what makes an effective training officer as well as training division. Are you a teacher and educator or are you just in the position of teaching? You're not a teacher unless they're learning. No different than you aren't leading if they aren't following. The chief talks about the position of influence that you are in. Are you using it in a positive manner or negative? Leave your ego at the door!

Assistant Chief Johnny Torgeson of MCLB Barstow Fire & Emergency Services talks Forging your Team! He outlines the differences between a group vs crew vs team, as teams are what we should be striving for in the fire service! Chief Torgeson also differentiates between mentoring and coaching as both have its place in development. Additionally, every single person must be intentional in their plans regarding developing yourself, your team and your organization. Pour 80% of your energy into 20% of your people and you will have created a force multiplier in forging your teams. Don't walk around with a leadership license: Earn the respect, opportunity and privilege to lead each day as if it were a new day.

Assistant Chief Scott Booth of Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One talks about the the necessity of being vulnerable in effective leadership. In his EFO paper, he unpacks "shared struggle," encouraging leaders to create opportunities for their team or crew to struggle together, instead of relying on chance to offer those situations. He challenges everyone to be just a little more vulnerable, today, with something simple, and see what happens! Scott also talks about how followership can be argued as more important than leadership.

Battalion Chief Dena Ali of the Raleigh Fire Department in North Carolina talks peer support., destigmatizing mental health and modeling vulnerability. Our guest has conducted extensive research on the mental health challenges faced by first responders, including the impact of trauma and stress, and has also conducted research on firefighter suicide. Chief Ali has also served as a subject matter expert at the National Fire Academy, where she assisted in reviewing the health and wellness curriculum. She goes into the polyvagal theory, and heart rate variability as it relates to training, recovery and performance.

Assistant Chief Rayne Gray of the Buckeye Fire Medical Rescue Dept. talks expanding your empathy by asking real questions, listening with real intent and getting to know your people. He unpacks the importance of getting out of your comfort zone and failing. People who really care about outcomes and their leadership qualities fear they don't measure up to the task, but they are the ones who are paying attention, staying curious, asking questions, learning and trying to better themselves. He suggests the ones who have it "all figured out," are the ones to be concerned about. Chief Gray suggests all leaders to build their reading lists, because although not all readers are leaders, all leaders are readers.

A group of dedicated fire officers who met at the Command & Control class at the National Fire Academy came together to create a "Wolfpack." Committed to continuous mentorship and learning, topics discussed are: Vulnerability, mentorship, diverse thought and perspective, personal & professional growth and a whole lot more. Tune into the 50th episode of the Kitchen Table!

Battalion Chief Jarrod Sergi of Norfolk Fire Rescue (VA) and author of the book "No Nonsense Leadership," A Realistic Approach for the Company Officer talks "There is no greater privilege than the privilege to lead people." Jarrod talks about how being an instructor is one of the most important roles in a company officer. He also talks accountability, time management and the fact that company officers are walking leadership development programs for your fire department.

Deputy Chief Chris Stewart formally of the City of Phoenix Fire Department talks "No more good dudes" leadership in the fire service. It takes so much more than being just a good dude or good gal to be a strong leader. You must be highly credible and highly competent to be effective. Chris says, "Operational effectiveness and safety must go hand in hand, not either/or." He also talks the 4 components of an accountability model. Be curious, not judgmental. Culture matters!

Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb (ret.) of the New York City Fire Department talks the "Winning Mindset." He unpacks his cornerstones of leadership: Training, Teamwork & Mentorship. Mentorship in the FDNY is engrained in their DNA. Departments and its people must make mentorship a part of their everyday culture. Competency is a must, but the strongest leaders know how to match the hard skills of the job with the soft skills.. Make sure you celebrate your wins and celebrate your people!

Fire Chief Dennis Doan of Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One talks about the 5 dysfunctions of a team. Your first team should be the team that you are on, not the team that you lead. You gotta step up if you want to make positive change. No silos, leaders must weigh in to have buy in. Everyone should strive for the platinum rule, "Treat people how THEY would like to be treated!" Chief Doan challenges all leaders to make excellence a priority in "every" thing we do. If not now, then when?

Fire Chief Tony McGuirk (ret.) of several fire departments in the United Kingdom and one of the original founders of the Community Risk Reduction concept talks extensively about the "What if" in delivering customer service as a fire service. He discusses ways in which the United Kingdom continues to put the community "first" in several of its innovations. He encourages that everyone need be a customer of the fire service service within the first 20minutes of a fire. He discusses the 0, 2, 5, 20 model in Community Risk Reduction.

Battalion Chief Corley Moore of the Moore Fire Department in Oklahoma, Founder of Firehouse Vigilance, "The Never Ending Battle to Fight Complacency," as well as host of the fire service leadership podcast, "The Weekly Scrap," joins the Kitchen Table to talk about fighting complacency. Author of the book, "The 9 L's" and "Challenge your Leadership," both are must have's in any leader's library. Consistency beats intensity every day of the week, and one must be mindful of where they put their energy. Chief Moore offers highly inspirational quotes as well as other must-read books on leadership, influence and culture. Chief emphasizes that leaders must always be present and supportive of those in their lead. Every day starts at zero!

Deputy Chief Steve Prziborowski (ret.) of Santa Clara County Fire Department and president and founder of code3firetraining, talks about his new book Courage Under Fire Leadership. Concepts unpacked include the followership crisis, how trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity as well as having haters is simply the cost of leadership! Steve encourages leaders to "have" a mentor(s) and also to "be" a mentor to others. Chief truly believes that everyone has something to contribute, regardless of your tenure or rank in the fire service. Leaders should find their niche and find ways to contribute, either by mentoring others, teaching classes, writing articles or even books. Steve quotes former U.S. Secretary of State "Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off." Catch your people doing things right!

Captain Troy Gibson of Hawai'i Fire Department talks about your wolfpack. Do you have one? If not, get one. Build relationships with people inside and outside your fire department, so you don't find yourself in an echo chamber. Make sure those in your wolfpack are honest with you, tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear, challenge them while they challenge you to become the best firefighter you could be. When you need help, ask for it, early and often. Listen to your people and be ok with not always having the answer to something. Be comfortable being uncomfortable!

Captain Anthony John (AJ) of South King Fire & Rescue out of Federal Way, Washington dives deep into mentorship and simply being intentional about what it is that you want to do. This includes having an all in attitude, building your relationships and with how you lead and mentor others. Leaders must always be listening and seeking out as many opportunities to learn about a diverse range of topics while always keep an open mind. AJ challenges all leaders to go out and do something with your crews off shift as that is where the foundation of success begins!

Retired Captain Bob Shannon of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue emphasizes that your organization is perfectly designed to get the outcomes that they are getting, as every organization has a leadership curriculum, formal and intentional, or accidental and by default. Bob dives into the two types of leaders: Positive impact leaders and negative impact leaders. Bob describes the leadership power quadrant including Emotional Intelligence & self-mastery, trust, accountability and effective communication. "You get what you accept, not what you expect!"

Disney Executive Lee Cockerell reveals the magic of Disney customer service. From poor farm kid to running Disney operations, Lee talks about the importance of having a good attitude, being reliable and having empathy. EVERYONE is watching! The secret is to hire the right people, train them right and treat them right! Don't underestimate your influence in the world, negative or positive, and don't underestimate what you can achieve in your life. Go be great!

Fire Chief Matthew Vinci of Vashon Island Fire & Rescue talks about the importance of networking, building relationships and listening to perspectives in order to get things done. Everybody at the table adds value, whether you agree or disagree with them and the lack of inclusion is simply a non-negotiable. Matthew talks about the strength in "pausing" in decision-making. The 24hr rule is often necessary, not just for yourself to think things through, but also to allow your team to think things through. "If you take care of your people, they will take care of the community!"

Fire Chief Mark Emery (ret.) of East Valley Fire District talks the Essentials of Honorable Leadership. He emphasizes that leadership is not synonymous with management and supervision, and leaders must differentiate between the two. Leadership is the influence of yourself and you take it with you everywhere you go. He quotes legendary coach and leader John Wooden in that "Success is peace of mind that is a direct result of self satisfaction and knowing that you make the effort to do the best of which are capable." Chief Emery also talks Integrated Tactical Accountability System (ITAC), Risk Assessment, the Passport Accountability System and more!

Battalion Chief Gary Barker of Valley Regional Fire Authority and Training Battalion Chief of Operations at the South King County Fire Training Consortium dives into "Old School Leadership" philosophies. Gary talks about how to become a respected officer, as well as the two traits that the most effective officers have in common: Being good at your job & being good with people! He emphasizes that many officers have one or the other, and to become a strong leader, one must strive to become competent in both!

Battalion Chief Ben Thompson of Birmingham Fire Department in Alabama unpacks his leadership philosophy on "to lead is to live dangerously." Don't become the lid and if you don't find yourself tired at the end of the day, you aren't doing enough as a leader. If you promote and you get the sense or feeling that you've "made it," you will not be an effective leader. Chief Thompson also emphasizes that if you are the best person for a particular job or position, you should put yourself in that position instead of looking for a way out, because as leaders, it is your duty to serve.

President Maia Earle and Dr. Brittany Hollerbach of The Beltane Guild join the show to discuss firefighter reproductive health. The nonprofit organization works in collaboration with firefighters and researchers from across the country to raise awareness, improve safety measures, re-write policy to protect our nation's firefighters and provide grants to firefighters needing fertility treatment. Maia and Brittany talk about some modifiable risk factors, as well as the importance of being advocates within your department regarding the benefits for employees even if it does not affect you directly. The Beltane Guild has resources and information for you today. Visit www.thebeltaneguild.org for more!

Fire Chief Jason Hoevelmann of Florissant Valley Fire District in Missouri discusses how leadership is a practice due to constant changes and adaptive challenges. He states, "Would you want your lawyer or surgeon to be one who has practiced law or medicine in the past, or is "currently" practicing today? Chief expands upon integrity meaning doing the right thing all the time and not just when no one is looking. He also states that you cannot expect yourself in others. Everyone has a role and you must meet people where they are at. Great leaders must be aggressive!

Deputy Fire Chief (ret.) Emon Usher of the City Richmond Fire Dept. in California and coaching cadre with the Firefighter Inspiration Readiness & Education Team joins us and calls for all firefighters to always remember your oath, look to serve and to serve well. Good leaders should be visionaries, be vulnerable and should speak with the 3 C's: Command, Clarity & Common Sense. Leader's must step up to the mic!

Dr. Bruce Avolio, PhD., Mark Pigott Chair in Business Strategic Leadership within the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington & co-director of the Seattle Fire Dept. Executive Leadership Academy talks about how rank at times can get in the way of others having a "voice," (or psychological safety), and that leaders must be aware that sometimes the least experienced person in the room is the voice we ought to be listening to. Bruce also talks the 1st principle in the most trusted professions, "other centeredness." The fire service and its leaders must maintain "other centeredness," by continuing to evolve and change throughout a career. "It ain't over til it's over." You don't give up, you keep pushing forward and make sure you maximize all the wisdom and smart things and people around you that know things to help you get you to where you want to be.

Christina Fong, PhD, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs at the University of Washington Foster School of Business and co-director of the Seattle Fire Department Executive Leadership Academy talks the growth mindset, identity and power differences.. She emphasizes how strong psychologically safe organizations invest in cohesion and have mechanisms in place for learning from one another, providing feedback and tracking progress. Christina encourages leaders to find and make strong relationships with people who are very different than you.

Megan Lautz, RD., registered dietitian and strength coach with Fairfax fire and police, talks the power of nutrition in leadership. Vulnerability in nutrition and fitness is key in strong leaders when looking for support in your nutritional habits. Megan talks caffeine, calories on the run, timing of eating, easy firehouse recipes and understanding that priorities may change throughout your career. She also discusses the importance of knowing how to cook and tips on portion control.

Editor in Chief of Fire & Rescue Media David Rhodes dives into how building trust and relationships and being competent are must-have's in a great leader. Chief Rhodes is a retired battalion chief of the Atlanta (GA) Fire Department as well as a chief elder for the Georgia Smoke Diver Program and he encourages emerging leaders to think outside the box by going outside your organization to take classes, to teach classes, become an instructor and to seek additional development to become a well-rounded leader. He talks about the concept of loyal disobedience in driving true positive change for the betterment of the whole.

Kevin Thomas McCarney, author of the best selling book "Big Brain, Little Brain," how to control which one speaks for you, teaching us how to use simple techniques to control our response to win positive, Big Brain legacies. The book identifies the twenty-one tools your Big Brain can tap into for better communication, as well as the fourteen avoidable traps that your Little Brain will constantly set for you. Most importantly, it will show you how to find your "neutral," giving you the time and focus you need to find the right words even in the most pressure-filled encounters. Gaffes will become a thing of the past, and great communication will become your trademark!

Dr. Mark Abel, Ph.D., director of the First Responder Research Laboratory at the University of Kentucky and Member of the Portuguese Police Research Center (ICPOL) conducts research to enhance the safety, health, and readiness of firefighters and law enforcement officers. Mark owns Tactical Fitness Institute, LLC which develops legally defensible physical ability standards for fire departments and law enforcement agencies. Among his plentiful research, Dr. Abel performs research into implementing healthcare practitioners into fire departments as part of overall health and wellness initiatives.

Lieutenant Annette Zapp of Fire Rescue Wellness talks about the 4 pillars of wellness for firefighters: 1) Sleep, 2) Nutrition, 3) Exercise and 4) Mental Health. She encourages all to build a solid foundation early in your fire service career as you will never be less busy than when you were first hired. Find a good culturally competent counselor early, don't wait until you are struggling, and focus on the 4 pillars to maintain your wellness. As a former biochemist who wandered into the fire service in her 30's, she encourages you to put yourself in places where you feel like you don't belong, say yes to things, and figure out the rest of it later.

Battalion Chief Rob Fisher of Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue and c0-founder of Young Officers on Fire talks about the importance of building relationships in the fire service. He emphasizes to young firefighters to know the trade before learning the tricks, and for young officers to learn how to communicate well in all aspects. Chief Fisher emphasizes the following: Pick up the phone and talk to people, meet with people face to face, plan and organize. If it's important, put it on the calendar, don't find the time, make the time. Invest time bonding in non-work stuff, give and receive appreciation more frequently, and lastly, always stay authentic,

Former global director of the Walt Disney Company and former City of Woodinville fire commissioner Ben May talks about knowing yourself and taking care of yourself first and then you will be able to help others. Ben emphasizes the importance of community risk reduction as that is the future of the fire service. Much like the Walt Disney philosophy in providing customer service that is second to none, don't worry about what you are going to get, but instead worry about what you are going to provide. "Ayn Brera. No choice. No choice but to be excellent. No choice but to do the right thing."

Deputy Chief Michael Despain of Redmond (Wa.) Fire Dept. talks about building community trust, remembering exactly who the customers are and who the service providers are. Chief dives into organizational steps to DEI work, how culture change is slow, but baby steps are key and how putting time and money behind important work must be a priority. Your test as a leader, a company officer, and a chief officer starts the day you become a firefighter.