Leadership

Leadership, wow that's is a big broad topic.  I could throw various definitions of leadership at you, but what is the point, if you want the dictionary definition its not hard to find.  Let me give you my definition of leadership.  A leader is someone who is able to motivate others to complete a common goal.  I like this definition because it is simple and to the point.  A leader gets people to get things done.  

Of course with almost anything you have good and bad.  Leadership is no different, you will find good leaders and bad leaders.  You will find leaders that fall anywhere within that spectrum.  So what makes a good leader?  Again, that is a broad question.  You could ask a million people and get a million different answers.  Since I am writing this, I will tell you what I think makes a good leader.  I think a good leader gets people to complete the common goal but by doing that in a way that is neither misguided or manipulative.  A leader should embody the mission and values of the organization they represent.  You have to have continuity from top to bottom.  You could be a great motivator but if you are guiding people on a mission that contradicts that of the organization are you really being a good leader?  I say no.  Leaders need to be strong and confident on the exterior.  You may be scared as hell on the inside but the minute you let that show, your people will pick up on it right away.  A leader needs to be able to think quickly and react to situations as they change.  You can't second guess yourself and you can't hesitate.  As a leader you have to be confident in your decisions and stick to them.  Once you start to second guess yourself the people you are trying to lead will begin to question you.  I also think a good leader needs to be able to take chances.  Let me rephrase that, a good leader needs to be able to take calculated risks.  There are some situations where a clear answer may not be available, a good leader will assess the situation and may need to take a calculated risk to get the job done.  A good leader has to be able to motivate, diffuse tense situations, promote morale among the group.  You should be able to coach and mentor your group as well.  A good leader sees those around him and does not try and hold them back.  They need to recognize the strengths of their people and allow them to utilize those strengths.  You should want those who follow you to succeed and excel, it will only reflect well on you as a leader.

So what makes a bad leader?  Oh wow, I could probably go on on about this topic but I will spare you from that soapbox.  I have been around the block a time or two so I have seen good leaders and bad leaders.  I have worked for my fair share of bad leaders.  Working for a bad leader is beyond frustrating.  The easy definition of a bad leader is to read the last paragraph and just think of the opposite of those traits.  Bad leaders seem to suck the morale out a group.  They can make you feel incompetent and like your opinion doesn't matter.  They seem to stifle your ability at every turn.  Bad leaders tend put their motives in front of those of the group.  Bad leaders "pass the blame and accept the praise!"  This quote is just a play on the leadership axiom "pass the praise and accept the blame" but it really is true.  Bad leaders accept the praise for the groups efforts but seem to do everything than can to avoid the blame if the group fails.  That is not what being a leader is about.

So where am I going with this?  To be honest I have started this paragraph 3 times now and have finally settled on a direction.  I want to describe what I like to see in an informal leader in the fire service.  An informal leader is the leader in the company that is not promoted to a leadership position.  Those are your formal leaders that are promoted to leadership positions such as Lieutenant, Captain and Chief.  An informal leader is not promoted but has earned the respect of the crew and helps promote the mission of the formal leader.  A good informal leader starts by leading by example.  They get out there and get the job done and follow the policies and guidelines of the department.  They do things thoroughly and do things right.  They set the example for the crew.    A good informal leader also needs to be a vocal leader to an extent.  They don't necessarily bark orders or verbally direct the crew but they need to be able to speak up when needed.  If they see something happening that does not fit the mission they need to speak up.  If there are questions or concerns amongst the crew they speak up.  If they have built the trust of their crew they can become that crew's voice if need be.  As an informal leader you need to have the guts to speak up.  You may have to call someone out if they are slacking or if their behavior is inappropriate.  Its a tough thing to do but as a leader there will be times you have to make the tough decision.  People may not like it but if you speak up in the right way and do what is best for the crew, people will respect that.  

Leadership is a must have quality in the fire service.  We are a para-military organization so rank structure is key and people will be formally placed in a leadership role.  These people are key to the success of the department but an informal leader can have an even bigger impact on the department.  If you have good informal leaders amongst the crews you will have a successful department.  They will set the tone for the crews.  They will lead by example and they will speak up when needed.  They take the rookies under their wings and make sure they have the knowledge to be successful.  Even if your department has good formal leaders they may still struggle without the presence of a good informal leader.  If you have good formal leaders and good informal leaders together they will make your department great.  Their teamwork will make crews that much better.  It is certainly a winning combination.