Dealing with Difficult People

Some fires do not start on the fireground. They start in conversations, in silence, in unchecked behavior, and in the cultural embers that slowly burn inside our organizations.

Managing people today is more complex and riskier than ever. Technology fuels misinformation and hostility, personal struggles spill into the workplace, and the culture of the firehouse is not immune. What happens online and at home shows up at roll call—and when it does, some of the people we work with become difficult.

Dealing with Difficult People is a handbook for leaders who find themselves unprepared for the human problems that can eclipse the fire, the budget, or the call. It is a comprehensive guide for handling different types of difficult people and the situations they can cause, from bullying, defamation, disgruntled behavior, gossip, to the downright dangerous.

Author, fire chief, and former Army combat medic Jerry Streich has experienced firsthand the impact difficult people can have in already high-pressure workplaces. His critical new book is here to pass along the lessons that could protect your health, your team, and your reputation.