Fire Chief Jason Caughey, senior fire advisor for FireRescue1, addresses the challenge fire chiefs face in balancing staying connected with their team while also empowering them to grow. The struggle for many new chiefs and senior fire officers is finding the right balance between micromanaging and letting go. Caughey emphasizes the importance of moving from being a “chief firefighter” to a “fire chief,” highlighting key leadership qualities such as empowerment, ownership and effective delegation. He advises fire chiefs to enable their teams, avoid isolation, and foster a rewarding and collaborative organizational culture.
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