The Clear Voice

In Episode #84 of The Clear Voice, James Groom sits down with Dee Maddox, founder of DMX Consulting, to talk about leadership, communication, workforce development, and what it really takes to lead people through change.

Dee brings more than 30 years of experience working with people and organizations, including a long federal career and service with NASA during the transition of the Space Shuttle Program. She shares what that experience taught her about communicating through uncertainty, taking care of people during major organizational change, and why knowing the reason for a change does not necessarily make it easier to accept.

James and Dee also discuss the evolving role of HR, breaking down silos inside organizations, helping employees understand how their work connects to the bigger picture, and why strong job candidates sometimes struggle to clearly communicate their value during an interview.

Dee also introduces her DEED Framework for leadership: Design, Education, Execution, and Documentation, with an emphasis on ownership and accountability.

Chapters
00:00 - Leading Through Change
00:47 - Meet Dee Maddox
07:23 - When Technology Replaces the Job
11:39 - AI and the Future of Work
15:34 - Leading the NASA Space Shuttle Transition
21:23 - Communication During Major Change
25:16 - Is HR Really There for Employees?
28:06 - Breaking Down Organizational Silos
32:21 - Why Great Candidates Get Passed Over
40:14 - The DEED Framework
49:18 - The Work Public Servants Do That People Never See
54:54 - Developing People and Keeping Good Employees
1:02:48 - The One Thing Every Leader Should Understand

Connect with Dee Maddox
Dee Maddox on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deemaddox/

DMX Consulting on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dmxconsulting/

DMX Consulting: https://deemaddoxconsulting.com/

ATD Dallas: https://tddallas.org/page-1863843

The views and opinions expressed on The Clear Voice do not necessarily reflect those of Clear Career Professionals. The discussion of any company, product, or service is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement.

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

In addition to executive search services, Clear provides local government leadership training, organizational assessments, executive coaching, interim leadership placements, and strategic consulting designed to strengthen city organizations and support effective public service leadership.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro

In this PositionCast™, James Groom is joined by Sansom Park Mayor Jim Barnett to discuss the city’s search for its next Chief of Police.

Mayor Barnett shares his background in Sansom Park, law enforcement, and public administration, along with what candidates can expect from the community, City Council, and city leadership. The conversation also covers the police department’s accreditation, Drone as First Responder program, K9 unit, staffing, culture, recruiting, and long-term priorities.

James adds perspective from his current role as interim police chief, including what he found when he arrived, the department’s strengths, and what the next chief will need to do to move the organization forward.

The episode closes with a discussion about leadership, accountability, retention, budgeting, and what success should look like during the new chief’s first year.

View the full job posting and apply:
https://tml.careerwebsite.com/job/chief-of-police/85793743/

View the recruitment brochure:
https://sansompark.org/DocumentCenter/View/3040/Sansom-Park-Police-Chief-Brochure?bidId=

Chapters
00:00 - Why Sansom Park Stands Out
00:52 - Welcome to the PositionCast™
04:30 - Mayor Jim Barnett’s Background
09:33 - Leadership Philosophy and Council Support
13:07 - “Greater Together” and the Sansom Park Community
15:34 - Inside the Sansom Park Police Department
19:27 - Living and Working Near Fort Worth
25:38 - Priorities for the Next Police Chief
30:47 - Leading from the Front
32:39 - Finding the Right Fit
35:47 - An Interim Chief’s Perspective on the Department
41:31 - Recruiting, Retention, and Building Culture

The views and opinions expressed on The Clear Voice do not necessarily reflect those of Clear Career Professionals. The discussion of any company, product, or service is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement.

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

In addition to executive search services, Clear provides local government leadership training, organizational assessments, executive coaching, interim leadership placements, and strategic consulting designed to strengthen city organizations and support effective public service leadership.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro

Dr. Wes Blair, Chief of Police at Memphis International Airport, joins The Clear Voice to talk about his career across multiple states, the move from traditional municipal policing into airport law enforcement, and why wellness has to start at the top.

Wes shares how airport policing is still police work, but in a very different environment with travelers, tenants, airlines, federal regulations, security expectations, and customer service all layered together.

The conversation also turns to officer health and wellness, the old law enforcement culture that kept many people from talking about what they were carrying, and why leaders must model the same care and support they expect from their teams.

Read Wes’s article for Clear Career Professionals:
https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/authentic-leadership-taking-care-of-ourselves

Learn more about Wes and Blair Advisor Group:
https://blairadvisorgroup.com/

Connect with Wes on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wes-blair/

Chapters:

00:00 Why Wellness Became Personal
03:09 Wes Blair’s Law Enforcement Background
06:19 Federal Air Marshal Experience
08:08 Returning to Community Policing
11:09 Knowing When It Is Time to Leave
12:40 Moving Across States and Organizations
16:11 Leadership, Uniforms, and Culture
19:33 Municipal Policing vs. Airport Policing
22:12 Airport Reporting Structure and Leadership
24:49 Relationships Across the Organization
28:18 Officer Health and Wellness
36:45 Annual Mental Health Check-Ins
41:22 Put Your Mask On First
46:36 Blair Advisor Group and Leadership Training
48:07 Advice for Public Sector Leaders

The views and opinions expressed on The Clear Voice do not necessarily reflect those of Clear Career Professionals. The discussion of any company, product, or service is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement.

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

In addition to executive search services, Clear provides local government leadership training, organizational assessments, executive coaching, interim leadership placements, and strategic consulting designed to strengthen city organizations and support effective public service leadership.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro

The City of Frisco, Texas, is searching for its next Fire Chief.

In this PositionCast™, James Groom and Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese are joined by Frisco City Manager Wes Pierson, Deputy City Manager E.A. Hoppe, and Interim Fire Chief Clay Carpenter for an inside look at the department, the community, and what Frisco needs from its next fire service leader.

Frisco’s next chief will inherit a high-performing department with significant resources, talented employees, a strong command staff, and a culture built around teamwork, innovation, and high expectations. The conversation covers department operations, continued growth, EMS, emergency management, Frisco’s SAFER system, organizational culture, and the leadership qualities that will matter most in the selection process.

Interested candidates can find the official recruitment brochure, position details, and application instructions on the Current Opportunities page at ClearCareerPro.com.

Chapters
00:00 – Why This Is a Unique Fire Chief Opportunity
00:37 – Welcome to the PositionCast™
02:38 – Meet Frisco’s Leadership Team
06:41 – Leadership Philosophy: Citizens First
08:38 – The Culture of Team Frisco
11:09 – What Frisco Needs From Its Next Fire Chief
15:29 – Inside the Frisco Fire Department
18:13 – Growth, New Stations & Future Resources
19:44 – ISO 1, Accreditation & High Standards
21:27 – Living, Working & Leading in Frisco
29:35 – Emergency Management & the SAFER System
33:55 – Operational Challenges & Opportunities
38:06 – The Clear Recruitment Process
41:42 – Final Advice for Candidates
44:46 – Learn More & Apply

The views and opinions expressed on The Clear Voice do not necessarily reflect those of Clear Career Professionals. The discussion of any company, product, or service is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement.

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

In addition to executive search services, Clear provides local government leadership training, organizational assessments, executive coaching, interim leadership placements, and strategic consulting designed to strengthen city organizations and support effective public service leadership.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro

Organizations spend enormous time and money developing leaders, but how much attention do we give to developing better followers?

Rick Chambers, author of Inspired: A Story of Leading, Following, and Changing and creator of Followership Works, joins James Groom to explore why followership may be one of the most overlooked pieces of organizational success. Rick explains how strong followers use critical thinking, self management, coachability, managing up, and constructive dissent to help their leaders, their teams, and themselves become more effective.

The conversation explores why followership is not about being a yes person, how employees can influence an organization without formal authority, and why learning to follow well can help prepare someone to lead. Rick and James also discuss respectfully challenging a boss, navigating poor decisions, building trust, knowing when it may be time to leave, and the responsibility every employee has to help advance the organization’s mission.

Rick closes with the trim tab analogy, a reminder that even someone without the title or authority can help turn the entire ship.

Chapters:

00:00 The Power of the Trim Tab
03:05 What Is Followership?
04:53 Learning to Influence Without Authority
09:52 Why We Train Leaders but Not Followers
14:30 Managing Up and Constructive Dissent
28:44 How to Respectfully Disagree With Your Boss
34:03 When All Else Fails
40:47 Finding Your Trim Tab Opportunity

Connect with Rick Chambers:

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/followership/

Followership Works
https://followership.works

Inspired: A Story of Leading, Following, and Changing
https://amzn.to/4zpSe7y

The views and opinions expressed on The Clear Voice do not necessarily reflect those of Clear Career Professionals. The discussion of any company, product, or service is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement.

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

In addition to executive search services, Clear provides local government leadership training, organizational assessments, executive coaching, interim leadership placements, and strategic consulting designed to strengthen city organizations and support effective public service leadership.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes. 

Career Opportunities
https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro