Extra Alarm: ‘I will stay connected to the members’ -- a challenging goal for newly promoted leaders

This week’s Extra Alarm insights come to us from Chief Eric Linnenburger, who focuses on the importance of genuine connection for newly promoted fire service leaders. Linnenburger identifies the challenges leaders face in maintaining a meaningful connection with their teams, backed by What Firefighters Want survey data that reveals a significant disconnect between fire chiefs and line personnel. The chief also shares practical recommendations for building trust and enhancing relationships within the team, emphasizing the necessity of human skills and leading by example rather than from behind a desk.

[Note: The What Firefighters Want in 2025 survey is now live. Share your voice here.]