The Leader's Toolbox: Overcoming the Challenges of a New Fire Department
Dr. Richard Gasaway offers advice to a firefighter who has joined a new department, but doesn't feel like they belong.
The listener wrote to Gasaway, saying that they feel like an outsider, despite having five years with another agency. He relates the experience to being a guest a stranger's home.
Listen as Gasaway shares some ideas on how to talk with members of the new fire department to bridge the gap and make being a member of the new department more enjoyable.
About the Author
Richard Gasaway
Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, CSP is an authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision-making processes that are used in high-stress, high-consequence work environments. He served 33 years as a firefighter, EMT-paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. Gasaway's doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and affect high-risk decision-making. He authored six books, and his contributions on situational awareness and decision-making are featured and referenced in more than 400 publications. Gasaway's training programs have been delivered to more than 88,000 students.