Firehouse's Mentor Monday: The Importance of Showing your Expectations

Jan. 20, 2025
Welcome to Firehouse’s new video series, Mentor Monday, with Chief Jacob Johnson. Each Monday, Johnson will talk about mentoring, from the mentor and mentee’s perspectives to help you get the most out of yourself or aid you in growing the mentee’s abilities.

Welcome to Firehouse’s new video series, Mentor Monday, with Chief Jacob Johnson. Each Monday, Johnson will talk about mentoring, from the mentor and mentee’s perspectives to help you get the most out of yourself or aid you in growing the mentee’s abilities.

From Pearland, TX, Fire Department's Assistant Chief Jacob Johnson:

"As a firefighter, demonstrating your expectations through actions both on and off the fireground rather than merely discussing them is crucial for success. Firefighting is a profession that relies heavily on teamwork, trust, and aggressive strategy and tactics.

By embodying the standards you wish to see, you set a powerful example for your crew members by showing them the expectations, reinforcing a culture of accountability and required skills on the fireground to equal success. Actions speak louder than words; right?

When others see you consistently meeting or exceeding expectations, it inspires them to do the same, fostering a cohesive and motivated crew that can be trusted on the fireground is what every company officer wants to be known for."

About the Author

Jacob Johnson

Jacob Johnson started at the Katy, TX, Volunteer Fire Department as a Junior Explorer Post Firefighter at 15 years old. Throughout the years, he moved up in the ranks until he changed departments in 2007. Johnson was one of the original full-time members who was hired by the Pearland, TX, Fire Department, where he currently sits today as a member of administration, serving as an assistant chief. Johnson has taught at numerous schools in Texas and has traveled over the past year to teach his mentoring and leadership class.

About the Author

Ryan Baker

Ryan Baker is a writer and associate editor with prior experiences in online and print production. Ryan is an associate editor for T&D World and Firehouse, while he is going to graduate school in pursuit of a master's degree in sciences of communication at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He recently completed a year of teaching Intro to Public Speaking at UW-Whitewater, as part of his graduate program. Ryan acquired his bachelor's degree in journalism in 2023 from UW-Whitewater, and operates currently out of Minneapolis, MN. Baker, also writes freelances for the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA) in his free time, while also umpiring baseball for various ages across the Twin Cities Metro Area.

Ryan Baker's LinkedIn

Ryan Baker's Instagram