In this special episode of EMS One-Stop, host Rob Lawrence welcomes General Robert B. Neller, the 37th commandant of the United States Marine Corps, to discuss leadership, decision-making, team building and the evolving challenges facing public safety professionals.
General Neller shares his perspective on leading under pressure, making critical decisions, and fostering an ethical and resilient organizational culture. With decades of military leadership experience, he provides actionable insights that apply not only to the armed forces but also to EMS, law enforcement, and fire and rescue personnel.
Throughout the episode, General Neller emphasizes the importance of training, adaptability and the role of leadership in guiding organizations through times of uncertainty. He highlights the significance of ethical leadership, followership and how leaders must take responsibility for failures while empowering their teams.
The discussion also explores the impact of emerging technologies, such as AI and body-worn cameras on public safety, and the crucial need for ongoing training despite staffing and funding challenges. This thought-provoking conversation delivers key takeaways for current and aspiring leaders across all branches of public safety.
|Watch next: An inside look at the New Orleans EMS body-worn camera program
15 leadership quotes from General Robert B. Neller
- 鈥淢aking decisions is part of your training 鈥� you鈥檙e expected to make them, and you have to do it in critical moments.鈥�
- 鈥淚f I could wave a magic wand, I鈥檇 put everyone at 110% staffing so they had the time to train properly.鈥�
- 鈥淭he leader鈥檚 job is to set the example 鈥� how you carry yourself, how you treat others, and how you communicate matters.鈥�
- 鈥淕ood leaders anticipate. They don鈥檛 just react 鈥� they look ahead and keep their teams informed.鈥�
- 鈥淔ollowership isn鈥檛 blind obedience; it鈥檚 about understanding the mission, contributing ideas, and executing effectively.鈥�
- 鈥淎ccepting responsibility is a core tenet of leadership 鈥� when things go wrong, the leader must own it.鈥�
- 鈥淐hange is inevitable, and good leaders learn to embrace it while preparing their people for what鈥檚 ahead.鈥�
- 鈥淭ake care of yourself 鈥� physically, mentally and morally 鈥� because leadership starts with personal discipline.鈥�
- 鈥淎s a leader, you have to accept that sometimes you鈥檒l make the right call, and things still won鈥檛 go your way 鈥� that鈥檚 part of the job.鈥�
- 鈥淵ou have to train and rehearse because time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted.鈥�
- 鈥淭he worst thing you can hear as a leader is that 鈥榶ou don鈥檛 care鈥� 鈥� your people need to know that you do.鈥�
- 鈥淭o build culture and cohesion, you set the example 鈥� you take the physical fitness test, you wear the uniform properly, and you carry yourself the right way.鈥�
- 鈥淕ood leadership is not about the complete suppression of ideas 鈥� if you have time, get input, because someone might have a better idea than you.鈥�
- 鈥淚f you have good followers, being a leader is significantly easier 鈥� if you don鈥檛, it鈥檚 a challenge every day.鈥�
- 鈥淐hange is inevitable 鈥� if you鈥檙e not evolving, you鈥檙e not making progress, and that鈥檚 a problem.鈥�
