How Vulnerability Builds Stronger Leaders: Lessons from Deputy Chief Scott Booth

"Vulnerability is not a weakness. It's a leadership superpower."
– Deputy Chief Scott Booth, Beneath the Helmet Podcast

Why This Conversation Matters More Than Ever. 

Leadership in the fire service is evolving.  The old-school, "never let them see you sweat" style of leadership is giving way to something stronger, more human, and far more sustainable: authentic vulnerability.

In this powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet, I sat down with Deputy Chief Scott Booth, a 35-year veteran of the fire service, to dive deep into the misunderstood strength of vulnerability. What emerged was a raw, honest look at why emotional courage, not perfection, is the real foundation of leadership today.

Whether you’re a rookie firefighter, a seasoned officer, or a chief navigating the complex dynamics of modern fire service leadership, this conversation offers something essential: a blueprint for building trust, fostering team cohesion, and cultivating personal resilience.

Scott Booth’s Journey Through Vulnerability and Leadership

Scott Booth’s leadership philosophy was shaped by real-world struggles that most people wouldn’t openly discuss. Raised primarily by women after his father left at a young age, Scott learned early that showing emotion wasn’t a liability—it was survival.

He later carried that lesson into his work as a paramedic, firefighter, and ultimately Deputy Chief of Health and Safety at Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One.

Booth explained:

"Vulnerability is a willingness to be transparent and emotionally exposed in a relationship with another individual, with the possibility of being hurt or attacked."

In other words, vulnerability means opening yourself up, even knowing it might not always be received perfectly. Yet time and again, Booth found that sharing honestly built deeper trust, stronger teams, and more resilient organizations.

He shared how vulnerability transformed even the first day of his Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program:

"Because I led with vulnerability, others in the room were willing to be vulnerable too. It set the tone for a deeper connection right from the start."

Throughout his career, Booth observed that when leaders dared to be genuine, the entire team rose together.

Why Vulnerability Changes Everything in Leadership

Scott’s message is clear: vulnerability isn't optional for modern leaders, it's essential. Especially in high-trust, high-risk environments, such as emergency services.  

Here are the Top 5 Nuggets (Takeaways) from our conversation:

1. Vulnerability Builds Trust Faster Than Authority
"Expressing vulnerability builds trust. It earns you loyalty that rank alone never could."  Teams trust leaders who are real, not those who hide behind the badge.

2. Vulnerability Is Strategic, Not Reckless
"You have to be thoughtful about where and how you express vulnerability. Fireground is different than the firehouse kitchen table."  It’s not about oversharing or emotional chaos. It’s about strategic authenticity.

3. Grace Strengthens Teams
"When you show grace for others’ mistakes, they show grace for yours. Vulnerability teaches teams to lead with compassion." Teams that experience grace together tend to perform better under pressure and in the face of conflict.

4. Shared Struggles Create Unbreakable Bonds
"Intentionally create shared struggles, not just wait for fires to bond your team."  Leadership is about engineering meaningful challenges, not just reacting to emergencies.

5. You Cannot Lead a Healthy Organization Without Healthy Leaders
"Isolation kills leaders. Vulnerability is the antidote."  Especially at the top, chief officers must intentionally build trusted circles to maintain emotional health and effectiveness.

Deputy Chief Booth reminds us that leading with vulnerability doesn’t erode your authority; it humanizes it. Teams want leaders who see them, hear them, and stand beside them, not above them.

"I would argue that if discipline is what you need to change behaviour, you're doing it wrong. Relationships change behaviour. Trust changes behaviour."

This is the heart of trauma-informed, human-centred leadership.

Ready to Lead With Vulnerability?
Leadership in today's fire service requires more than technical skill.
It demands emotional courage, self-awareness, and the willingness to be human first, officer second.

🔥 Listen to this whole conversation with Deputy Chief Scott Booth on the Beneath the Helmet Podcast.
🔥 Reflect on where you can start leading with more authenticity today.
🔥 Share this post with a fellow leader who needs to hear it.

And if you’re ready to be part of a movement that builds resilient leaders and resilient teams..

👉 Subscribe to Beneath the Helmet for more real, human conversations about firefighter wellness, leadership, and operational readiness.

Together, let's build a fire service culture that truly thrives, one courageous conversation at a time.