Stepping into an EMS supervisor role isn’t just a promotion — it’s a perspective shift. One day you’re running calls shoulder-to-shoulder with your crew, the next you’re responsible for culture, performance, conflict resolution, safety, and direction. The first 90 days will test your leadership, your humility, and your consistency more than any certification ever did.
Here’s what I’ve learned from the front seat during my first 90 days as a new EMS supervisor — what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d recommend to anyone stepping into the role.
Month 1: Listen More Than You Talk
Your first instinct might be to start fixing things immediately. Slow down.
Your crews already have a culture, informal leaders, friction points, and unwritten rules. If you charge in making changes before understanding the landscape, you’ll create resistance — even if your ideas are good.
What I focused on:
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Having one-on-one conversations
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Asking what frustrates crews most
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Asking what they’re proud of
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Watching how shifts actually run (not just how policy says they run)
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Learning names, strengths, and personalities
Key lesson: Trust is built by listening before leading.
Month 2: Be Visible and Predictable
Crews don’t just want a supervisor — they want a present one.
Not a ghost. Not just an email sender. Not just someone who shows up when there’s a problem.
I made it a priority to:
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Be physically present at bases
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Check in without an agenda
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Follow up on small issues quickly
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Be consistent in tone and expectations
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Avoid leadership “mood swings”
Predictability builds psychological safety. Crews should know:
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How you’ll respond
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What you expect
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That you’re fair
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That you don’t play favorites
Key lesson: Consistency beats intensity.
Month 2–3: Own Problems Early (and Publicly)
Nothing destroys credibility faster than blame shifting.
When something went wrong — even if I didn’t cause it — I learned to say:
“That’s on me. I’ll help fix it.”
Ownership doesn’t mean fault — it means responsibility. Crews respect supervisors who stand in the gap instead of stepping aside.
This includes:
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Scheduling errors
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Equipment gaps
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Communication misses
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Policy confusion
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Training holes
Key lesson: Ownership creates authority — not the badge.
Hard Truth: You Can’t Stay “One of the Crew”
This one hits a little.
You can still be friendly — but you’re no longer just one of the gang. Some conversations change. Some relationships shift. Some jokes stop landing the same way.
Trying to cling to your old role creates confusion and weak leadership.
Instead:
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Be approachable but boundaried
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Be human but decisive
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Be supportive but firm
Key lesson: Respect lasts longer than popularity.
Early Wins Matter — Even Small Ones
Big reforms take time. Small improvements build momentum.
I focused on:
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Fixing quick equipment issues
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Improving communication loops
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Clarifying expectations
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Supporting training requests
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Removing small daily friction points
Crews notice when problems actually get solved — even small ones.
Key lesson: Momentum builds trust.
Your Best Tool Is Follow-Through
In EMS, people are used to hearing:
“Yeah, we’ll look into that.”
What they rarely see is closure.
I started tracking:
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What people asked for
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What I committed to
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When I said I’d follow up
Then I followed up — even if the answer was “not yet.”
Key lesson: Follow-through is leadership currency.
What I’d Tell Any New EMS Supervisor
If you’re stepping into your first 90 days, here’s my straight advice:
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Listen first
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Show up often
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Be steady, not flashy
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Own problems
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Don’t chase popularity
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Fix small things fast
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Follow through relentlessly
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Build people, not just metrics
Leadership in EMS isn’t about control — it’s about stewardship. You’re taking care of crews who take care of everyone else on their worst days.
And that’s worth doing well.
Even as my role has grown beyond the truck and into full-time work building our coffee company, my heart is still firmly rooted in EMS. This next chapter gives me a different kind of platform — one where I can give back by investing in people, mentoring new providers, supporting crews, and helping strengthen the culture that shaped me. Through leadership, training, and community support, my goal is to serve the next generation of medics and first responders — not just with words, but with real opportunities, encouragement, and resources. If I can help raise up stronger, healthier, mission-driven leaders in EMS, then the impact will reach far beyond any single shift or call.
- Matt, SDG