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. Linda is the author of On the Line: Women Firefighters Tell Their Stories. She has a bachelor’s degree in American studies, a master’s degree in organization development and is a certified mediator. Linda is a member of the FireRescue1/Fire Chief Editorial Advisory Board. To contact Linda, e-mail Linda.Willing@FireRescue1.com.

Full list of Linda Willing results

Camp Fury empowers girls to consider first responder careers
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Through a partnership with the Girl Scouts of America, Camp Fury is igniting a passion for public safety and emergency services among young girls
‘LA Fire & Rescue’: An inside look at real-life drama on the scene
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The NBC docuseries follows units in Los Angeles County, highlighting the positivity of the profession but also a problematic safety issue
Do fire/EMS personnel have a duty to intervene when excessive force is used?
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While not a legal requirement like for police officers, firefighters and paramedics may witness inappropriate behavior in the field that necessitates intervention
How fire, EMS departments can better serve the elderly
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It's easy for fire and EMS departments to poorly serve this growing demographic, but training can improve that
The 4 Ps: A blueprint for embracing change in EMS
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Learn how to plan for major industry shifts – both on in the field and at the agency – and how to navigate these transitions successfully
Shining LIGHT on a new approach to behavioral health calls
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A new Las Cruces, New Mexico, program aims to better serve community members experiencing mental health emergencies
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
Judgment call: Sound judgment must exist at all levels of EMS 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 first responders
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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
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
Why the media singles out wrongdoing by firefighters, EMTs
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Do the right thing because it is right, but also do the right thing because your job, supported by the currency of public trust, depends on it
‘Quiet quitting’: How EMS leaders 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
5 dysfunctions that turn teams into mere groups
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From issues of trust, conflict and commitment to accountability avoidance and inattention, dysfunction can render a team utterly ineffective
Mastering ‘verbal judo’: How first responders can employ de-escalation techniques
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Learn 7 escalation phrases to avoid, plus alternative phrases to help defuse confrontational moments with patients or bystanders
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