Leadership readiness defines organizational readiness. In EMS, where fatigue, turnover and operational strain dominate, the ability of leaders to communicate clearly, support their people and make informed decisions under pressure determines how well the mission holds together.
The 2025 EMS Trend Survey underscores a leadership disconnect: 33% of EMS professionals are dissatisfied with agency leadership, and over half say their supervisors rarely recognize effort, provide feedback or explain key decisions. When command-level engagement falters, it creates downstream effects — burnout, disengagement and operational inconsistency.
Command readiness requires more than authority; it demands trust, visibility and two-way communication.
On the ground
Findings from the What Paramedics Want in 2025 report show leadership performance directly influences workforce stability and morale:
- 31% believe their agency leadership does not adequately recognize staff stressors.
- 21% report their supervisors rarely or never allow them the freedom to do their job as they feel best
- 45% report their supervisors rarely or never care about their professional development
- 54% report their supervisors rarely or never provide constructive performance feedback
- 56% report their supervisors rarely or never provide them with recognition and praise
- 41% report their supervisors rarely or never treat everyone on the team fairly
Providers repeatedly cited a lack of transparency, feedback and consistent communication as major contributors to job dissatisfaction and turnover.
Frontline comments reflect the sentiment: “Treat us like people, not numbers,” and “Let us be heard and involved.”
Command readiness starts by closing that trust gap.
Action items
To strengthen leadership readiness across all levels:
- Lead with visibility and presence. Be present on the ground. Ride along, visit stations and listen. Visibility builds credibility and signals that leaders share the mission, not just manage it.
- Establish two-way communication. Move beyond one-way messaging. Create structured listening channels — employee surveys, shift briefings and open feedback loops — and follow up with action.
- Train supervisors for readiness leadership. Frontline supervisors need the same readiness mindset as command staff. Provide development on conflict resolution, coaching, peer support and decision-making under stress.
- Recognize and reinforce performance. Regularly acknowledge effort and progress, not just outcomes. Recognition builds resilience and motivation during high-demand periods.
- Build leadership continuity. Develop succession plans and mentorship programs. Agencies that invest in leadership depth maintain consistency through turnover and change.
- Connect leadership actions to operational outcomes. Use data to show how communication, recognition and staffing decisions affect retention, safety and response quality. When leaders see measurable impact, readiness becomes a shared priority.
- Model wellness and accountability. Command sets the tone for self-care, transparency and adaptability. When leaders demonstrate balance, crews follow suit.
Readiness reflection
Ask these questions to assess your agency’s command readiness:
- Do our leaders communicate expectations clearly and consistently?
- Are supervisors trained to lead people, not just manage schedules?
- Do command staff model resilience, openness and accountability?
- Is feedback from the field used to inform leadership priorities?
- Can our leadership structure sustain readiness through turnover or crisis?
Mission Ready: Every responder, every time
The strength of EMS leadership determines how teams perform under pressure. Join public safety leaders on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, from 1-4:30 p.m. ET, for Lexipol Connect 2025, a virtual conference delivering actionable tools and insights to strengthen total readiness across people, operations and leadership.
Don’t miss the breakout session, “Confronting the Leadership Crisis: Key Strategies for Building a Leadership Development Program in Your Agency.” An all-star panel including Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder will share key components of leadership development, focusing on strategies agencies can implement quickly to support current leaders and prepare the next generation to take the helm.
Register now for Connect 2025 and ensure your agency is mission ready.
EMS1 is using generative AI to create some content that is edited and fact-checked by our editors.
