Sixth Edition Marquis Who’s Who INSIGHT 15 INSIGHT MARQUIS WHO′S WHO SIXTH EDITION SUMMER 2024 What are two key behaviors/personality traits that allow you to be effective in your role? Authority and authenticity. To do what I do takes an almost audacious level of confidence in the knowledge obtained and a near tireless approach to learning more. When I invest in someone, I’m also investing in their business, their personal relationships and their reputation, so I have to be adept in many fields. I also have a responsibility to cultivate a trusted advisor reputation, which means I can’t be afraid to tell the truth, even if it’s not what they want to hear. I genuinely desire to help them, and they recognize that authenticity. How do you feel your industry has changed/evolved? About 15 years ago, the corporate and public safety communities began focusing on wellness. Many attempts were made to break down the stigma of mental health and provide better care and access to reliable, proven self-care tools. In corporate circles, it was largely received in a positive way. However, this shift in focus has cracked public safety almost in the middle. On one side, you have the old guard who will not budge. They don’t care to change on their own, nor will they ask for help. On the other side are the younger, more progressive leaders who realize there’s nothing inspirational about sacrificing their health for ego. They also recognize that if they don’t model what it looks like to be healthy, they’re leading the next generation down the primrose path to an early grave. We’re watching the old guard exit and welcoming new guards in. What innovations or technologies do you feel will shape the future of your industry? The most innovative phenomenon occurring now is the shifting attitude of senior leaders. In the last decade, society has been inundated with complaints about the younger generation. Complaints have since turned into untrue labels. The research I see reveals the Millennial and Gen Z populace's positive impact on the workforce. Today, people are not interviewing with a focus on what they bring to the agency but with a question about what the organization’s culture brings to them. Leaders today realize that recruiting and retaining talent is only possible when the culture reflects the beliefs of its entire team. People do not buy what you do; they buy what you believe because they believe what you believe. Transformational leaders are finally building high-performing teams united by a shared belief system. The result is the culture shift we’ve needed for decades. What excites you the most about your industry? In the last few years, we’ve seen the social perception of our public safety profession deteriorate. We've seen the behavior of the few impact the reputation of the many. People have stopped believing in heroism the way they used to. We can’t change the past, but we can build a better future. Our greatest opportunity is to become resilient – to raise the bar on what excellence is, vow to make tangible change and prepare to outperform expectations in the future. Our communities, organizations, families, professions and heroes deserve nothing less.
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