Mental Skills For Firefighters

Superintendent Scott Hayward: Mental Performance, Pressure & Incident Command

10 Dec 2025

Audio

Description

Incident management is one of the most mentally demanding roles in emergency services. It requires clear thinking, calm leadership, and decisive action, often with incomplete information, high emotional stakes, and intense sensory overload.In this episode, I’m joined by Superintendent Scott Hayward, Manager of Operational Command at Fire and Rescue NSW. Scott has over 20 years’ experience on the fireground and now trains and assesses new incident managers across the state.Together, we explore what it really feels like to take command under pressure and how process, preparation, and mental skills help people perform when it matters most. Key Ideas & Models DiscussedCognitive load & overwhelmStress inoculation through trainingRecognition-Primed Decision Making (Gary Klein)Situational awarenessThe OODA Loop (Observe–Orient–Decide–Act)Incident phases & risk acceptanceThe “jockey and horse” analogy for state control Resources MentionedGrenfell (Netflix documentary)The Kerslake Report – Manchester Arena InquiryRichard Gassaway – Situational Awareness MattersOn the Trail of Genghis Khan – Tim CopeChapters:00:00 – Incident Command Under Pressure 07:00 – Early Experiences of Overwhelm 12:30 – What Incident Management Really Involves 18:00 – Process, Preparation & Staying Calm 25:00 – Real Fireground Decision-Making 34:00 – Training, Assessment & Stress Inoculation 45:00 – Situational Awareness & Adaptive Command 58:00 – Mental Skills Training & Final Reflections

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13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

2ª PARTE | 06 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

3ª PARTE | 22 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

3ª PARTE | 04 MAR 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

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Mental Skills For Firefighters

Superintendent Scott Hayward: Mental Performance, Pressure & Incident Command

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other recent transcribed episodes

13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

2ª PARTE | 06 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

3ª PARTE | 22 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

3ª PARTE | 04 MAR 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

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