In the Books Episode #19: Dealing with Difficult People: For Fire and EMS Organizations

In this episode of In the Books, David Rhodes sits down with retired Fire Chief Jerry Streich to talk about a critical but often overlooked challenge in the fire service: managing difficult people. Drawing from decades of leadership—and a powerful personal experience that shaped his perspective—Streich shares insights on toxic behavior, workplace culture, and the people skills every firefighter and officer need but rarely gets trained on. 🔥 In this episode: How difficult personalities impact morale and operations Early warning signs of toxic behavior Practical tips for addressing conflict and setting expectations Why leadership must focus on people—not just emergencies 📘 Dealing with Difficult People is available now at FireEngineeringBooks.com  #FireService #Leadership #Firefighter #EMS