If you are in or running a disfunctional team, maybe it is a simple as people do not know who is the boss? Not an unusual situation but one that needs to be quickly and consciously resolved. Here I share my experience with this in the fire service and what can be learnt from it.
One of the things the Fire Service does exceptionally well is make it clear not only that there must be a boss but also who that person is.
In an emergency situation, control needs to be quickly put in place and priority given to the tasks needing to be completed. Your OIC (officer in charge) might be your best friend at the weekend but on the Fire Ground he is boss, and you do as instructed immediately and without question.
Every Fire Service uses similar methods to make it clear who is in control on a Fire Ground, from the color and markings on helmets, clearly marked vests, right down to where people sit on the truck. If you ride in the front passenger seat you had better be prepared to take responsibility when you get off the truck … simple.
What happens when simple rules are ignored?
One day a couple of years ago we responded to a head-on motor vehicle accident. Unfortunately no officer was available and we were a crew of four firefighters of the same rank. On arrival the place was a mess with serious injuries in both cars, traffic backed up and members of the public trying to be helpful but in the way.
We all jumped into action doing what we thought the best use of our skills, but without a clear boss. The guy in the front hadn’t demanded control and we hadn’t expected it. Fortunately things didn’t go too badly, but it certainly became clear, as other services arrived, such as Ambulance, Police and additional Fire Trucks that we were not in control. Everyone was looking for status updates, starting with “Who’s the Boss?”, and we didn’t know.
In business things are no different, there needs to be a boss, and there should be no question who that person is. An organization needs someone steering the ship, allocating the resources and establishing priority.
Something to think about: How is that going in your organization? What’s going well and what needs to change?
Please share your thoughts below. What is leadership to you, and do you agree there needs to be a boss?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Great leaders are accessible
Know when to piss people off
Can lead emotion
Balance both formal and informal relationships
Politically astute – both in a political and business sense
Earn their way to the top
The AB’s perform well under good leaders (captain & coach). Business is no different. Great leaders = Great performances.
Nige, you raise an interesting distinction. Every boss must become a leader.
And why is my avatar red with rage?
I think its a huge benefit to the employee to have a ‘boss’. For instance a skilled worker is beavering away at their task and can remove noise only having to focus on that one thing.
Joel Spolsky talks about management as a support service to developers. Interesting if you think about a boss’s job as a means of making employees more efficient…
Ah all very profound thank you. I agree.
But may I do a hat tip to http://www.flowerdust.net/ for the leadership quote Anne shared there:
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” ~Lao Tzu
Ian … “And why is my avatar red with rage?” … It’s a conspiracy :-)
thanks for the link love!
A boss or manager ensures the day to day work is done and staff do their job well. A leader provides the vision and direction and empowers people to follow that vision.
you would like to be more like my mate House! gosh i’m starting to get really scared stephen!………. on the subject of Boss, i have many bossess and i’m not really sure who is the Boss, maybe its ME! heehee
brenda