‘Come from curiosity’: Chief Corey Smedley on earning trust as an outside hire
“Everybody’s going to be a leader.” Fire Chief Corey Smedley encourages his entire workforce to step into their own leadership roles and not be afraid to make mistakes. Smedley, who is nearing one year as fire chief for Montgomery County (Maryland) Fire & Rescue, is the organization’s first outside hire for the top spot. The chief reflects on how he worked to learn the in-and-outs of the department’s culture and the importance of asking questions from a place of curiosity, not judgment — key steps in securing a “soft landing” for a new chief. We dig into all this and more:
Smedley’s…
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