Fire Services: A conversation with Bert Brugghemans about decision making in crises

Bert Brugghemans joins us from the City of Antwerp, where he serves as the Chief Fire Officer. Today, we’ll gain Bert’s perspective on leadership and decision-making when routine operations turn into rapid response situations.

We talk about Bert’s research and how he has progressed his thinking from the early days in the fire service and studies in public health to his later career in leadership and studies in public management. In particular, we talk about leadership-team dynamics and what creates the environment in which trust enables teams to make good decisions in a crisis.

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SHOWNOTES

Connect with Bert Brugghemans on LinkedIN

Research Links:

The process of decision-making in a fast burning crisis situation: a multiple sequence approach of decisiveness

The Collapse of Sensemaking in Organizations: The Mann Gulch Disaster

Young Men and Fire

How does Leadership Manage Network-Level Tensions in a Turbulent Environment? A Case Study on the Antwerp Fire Service Network Leadership during the COVID-19 Pandemic

TIMESTAMPS

[00:04:36] Transition from Order to Chaos

[00:08:07] The Unique Role of Fire Services

[00:13:24] Collaborative Leadership

[00:24:31] Decision-Making Research

[00:43:00] Trust and Team Cohesion

[00:45:14] Network Management

[00:49:50] Public Awareness and Investment