From Great to Magnus: Dr. Terry Anderson on Unlocking Competency-Based Leadership for First Responders
From Great to Magnus: Dr. Terry Anderson on Unlocking Competency-Based Leadership for First Responders
What does it take to move from being a good leader to becoming a truly Magnus leader, one who inspires lasting change?
In this powerful episode of Beneath the Helmet, retired criminologist, author, and leadership coach Dr. Terry Anderson shares over five decades of experience in competency-based leadership for firefighters, police, and public safety professionals.
You’ll discover:
✅ The five essential leadership skillsets that build resilient, high-performing leaders
✅ How the Great to Magnus movement is transforming public safety leadership
✅ Why “soft skills” like communication, empathy, and team-building are the hardest—and most critical—to master
✅ How positive intelligence, self-leadership, and continuous improvement can strengthen mental health, reduce stress, and create healthier organizational culture
Imagine leading with clarity, confidence, and compassion while building stronger teams and creating a meaningful impact in your department and community.
Whether you’re a firefighter, officer, or EMS professional, this episode gives you the tools and mindset to elevate your leadership while protecting your mental wellness—at work and at home.
🎧 Listen now and discover how to lead yourself, and others, better.
Timestamp Guide
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[00:00] Welcome & intro to Dr. Terry Anderson
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[02:00] Dr. Anderson’s journey into leadership development
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[06:00] Competency-based leadership—what it really means
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[12:00] Why “soft skills” are the hardest skills
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[18:00] Continuous improvement in organizations
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[24:00] Positive intelligence & mental health for leaders
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[33:00] Dr. Anderson’s personal longevity practices
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[40:00] Meditation and building mental clarity
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[47:00] First responder appreciation story
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[49:00] Moral compass and honesty in leadership
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[54:00] Final message: Enjoy each moment
Connect with Dr. Terry Anderson
- drcoach@mac.com
- consultingCoach.com
Arjuna George - Fire Chief (ret)
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Connect with the Host:
Arjuna George – Fire Chief (ret) Owner of Silver Arrow Coaching and Consulting, Beneath the Helmet Show, and Burnt Around the Edges author.
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Terry Anderson
Dr. Terry Anderson serves as the Chief Leadership Officer at the International Academy of Public Safety and the President of Anderson Corporate and Executive Coaching, Inc. He serves both the health and public safety sectors mainly on the West Coast of the US and Canada. He is an Advisor to Epiphany360.io.
As a Certified Positive Intelligence Coach he provides strategic change consulting and leadership coaching services for executives and has done so for over 30 years. He is result-oriented and seeks always to move research-based best practices into practice.
He is the co-author of the renown book (now in its Fourth Edition) Every Officer is a Leader: Coaching Leadership, Learning and Performance in Justice, Public Safety, and Security Organizations, (2023) https://readinessnetworkpublishing.com/published-books/. This book, Field Guide, and online learning programs are uniquely focused on developing leadership competence as well as leadership theory.
Dr. Anderson earned his B.A. (1967) in Psychology and his M.A. in Education (1973) from California State University, Chico, and his Ph.D. in Administration and Management (supervised by Faculty at the University of Massachusetts School of Management, and School of Counseling and Consulting), through Columbia Pacific University, San Rafael, California, (1991).
He has been trusted by executives at Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department, Folsom Police, New Westminster Police Service, Vancouver Police, San Diego Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the California State University (Fullerton… Read More
