What Most Leaders Get Wrong and How to Make It Right (with Steven Locke) Ep|116

Chief Steven Locke has spent nearly four decades in the fire service, rising from a teenager hanging around the firehouse with his father to leading three different departments and serving in national leadership with the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Along the way, he learned that leadership is less about making every decision and more about empowering others to make them. In this episode of The Chief Exchange, Chief Locke shares what most leaders get wrong about leadership and why every chief must evolve from being a micromanager to empowering their team. We discuss the lessons learned from leading three very different departments, what it feels like to supervise former peers after a promotion, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear. Chief Locke also reflects on the power of handwritten notes, thanking the people who helped you along the way, separating work stress from your personal life so you can sleep at night, and recognizing when it is time to step aside and let the next generation lead. From saving today for the you tomorrow to learning how to ease up on the gas pedal and enjoy the journey, this conversation is a powerful reflection on leadership, legacy, and finishing a career by lifting others up.