Strong leadership is built on strong relationships. In this episode, I speak with Fire Chief David Mixson about why relationships, communication, and trust sit at the center of effective leadership in public safety and beyond.

Chief Mixson draws from decades of experience in the fire service and emergency management to explain how credible leadership grows from consistency, clarity, and genuine connection with the people you serve. We discuss how leaders build trust, why communication gaps create preventable problems, and how strong relationships support accountability, resilience, and organizational performance.

Whether you lead a city department, a public-safety team, or any high-pressure environment, these principles apply to every sector. This conversation offers practical guidance on developing the relational foundation required for long-term leadership success

• Dave Mixson on LinkedIn
• Dr. Joe Pennino on LinkedIn
• DrPennino.com

(This episode is part of our five-part leadership fundamentals series.)

In this first episode of our five-part leadership series, Dr. Joe Pennino and Dr. Lindsay Judah explore why clear expectations are the foundation of effective leadership. Expectations reduce uncertainty, create alignment, and give teams the clarity they need to perform with confidence.

Joe and Lindsay discuss written expectations, policies and procedures, onboarding practices, and performance evaluations, along with the role accountability plays in building trust. They examine why leaders sometimes avoid direct conversations, how that avoidance undermines team culture, and why clarity is ultimately an act of respect.

This conversation offers practical guidance for leaders who want to strengthen their teams, reduce friction, and ensure people understand what is expected of them.

• Dr. Lindsay Judah LinkedIn
• Dr. Joe Pennino LinkedIn
• DrPennino.com

Next episode: how to build a high-performing team with a #OneTeam mindset.

Why do capable managers suddenly struggle after promotion?

In this episode of The Leadership Shift, Dr. Joe Pennino speaks with Dr. Lindsay Judah—fire rescue division chief, consultant, and leadership professor—about the hidden challenges of executive roles.

Key discussion points:

• Why promotion isn't just more responsibility—it's a complete role redesign

• The "muscles you didn't know existed": tactical to strategic thinking

• Organizations' biggest mistake: assuming competence = readiness

• Managing up: how to get clarity when expectations aren't explicit

• Leaders' role: explicit communication, one-on-ones, crawl-walk-run onboarding

• Why silence after promotion feels like ambiguity to your team

Practical takeaways:

• Use one-on-ones to define success metrics and decision boundaries

• Treat promotion like onboarding a new hire—explicit expectations required

• Shift from activity reporting to judgment and relationship investment

"If you've been promoted, don't wait for clarity—manage up."

• Dr. Lindsay Judah LinkedIn
• Dr. Joe Pennino LinkedIn
• DrPennino.com

#leadership #management #promotion #expectations #accountability

Subscribe for more frameworks on performance, expectations, and organizational change.