Side Alpha Leadership

Author: David Polikoff

"Because leadership isn't optionalit's the job. Whether you're stepping into your first officer role or you've been leading crews for years, this podcast is here to sharpen your edge. My guests and I dive into the real challenges of leading in the fire serviceno ego, no fluffjust straight talk, hard lessons, and solid tools to help you lead with confidence, clarity, and grit." Lead From the Front. Own the Fireground.
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Language: en

Genres: Business, Education, Management

Contact email: Get it

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Leadership Is Behavior, Not a Badge
Episode 12
Monday, 1 December, 2025

🔥 The fire service isn't about you — it's about the people you serve and the firefighters you lead. In this hard-hitting episode of *Side Alpha Leadership*, I sit down with Assistant Chief Moses Jefferies to talk real fire service leadership — the kind that happens at 2 a.m. when you're tired, cold, and still expected to give your best. We go deep into what it means to lead with respect, own the brand, and represent your department with pride. From the bay floor to the command post, this conversation cuts through the buzzwords and gets to the truth: ✅ Why leadership is *behavior* — not position. ✅ Why the small details — clean rigs, crisp uniforms, tight PPE — matter more than you think. ✅ How to teach the next generation the *why* behind everything. ✅ Why "customer service" in the fire service isn't about smiles — it's about respect and pride in the badge. ✅ And why great leaders don't own the job — they *steward* it for the next generation. ⚡ "The patch on your arm is a brand. How you wear it is what the public remembers." Subscribe for more unfiltered talk about leadership, culture, and accountability in the fire service. #SideAlphaLeadership #FireServiceLeadership #FireCulture #Accountability #FirefighterMindset #LeadByExample #CommandPresence #FirefighterTraining #CustomerServiceInTheFireService