A diagram of a fire department organizational chart is in the shape of a pyramid. The pyramid depicts the paramilitary hierarchical structure, with administrators at the top and firefighters at the bottom. Sprinkled throughout every organization is a mixture of both formal and informal leaders. The formal leaders are in a position of authority; the informal leaders aren’t. That said, many of us will agree that informal leaders can be more powerful than formal leaders. I have asked many students why informal leaders can be more powerful, and two reasons rise above all others: trust and respect. Leadership is a choice to take care of those who are around you. Author and speaker John Maxwell contends, “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.” You use influence to gain trust and respect. The fire service wins when informal leaders who have this influence become officers. However, some firefighters jump into an officer position prior to earning the trust and respect of those who are around them. When this happens, officers still must continue their managerial duties while relying on leadership influence to build relationships of trust and respect. Some do this very quickly, while others might require 5–10 years. Some never do. The above excerpted from Firehouse Magazine - Leadership Lessons: Leadership from the Bottom Up April 18, 2021. In this 3 part workshop Dr. Ashby provide detailed actions leaders can take no matter what position they may be in for the traditional hierarchy of a fire department. Join Dr. Ashby for an interesting presentation you will enjoy and learn real world techniques to improve your influence.
