Do have what it takes to be an outstanding "Firefighter”?
By Nadja Conaghan
What is the perfect leader? I have been asked this question many times. The truth is that it’s not easy to answer; leadership is very complex and situational. The better question to ask is: “Am I the right leader for the job?“
In general, I would say the perfect leader is “flexible” and adjusts the way they lead and manage depending on the situation and what is needed. Good leaders understand this. They know that one-size-fits-all leadership does not exist. And one leadership style that works for one company or one team does not work another company or team. Again, leadership is more complex than that.
I remember the introductory chapter for leadership in my occupational and organisational psychology book. A big study was conducted to determine what good and successful leaders and managers do and what do they do differently from the average or bad leader. One finding shows that leaders get interrupted a lot during the day due to shifting priorities and issues that need their immediate attention. In other words, often they start a task and will need to stop what they do and do something else instead. Good leaders also communicate more than actually “doing” - i.e. gather, filter and process information quickly, distribute only relevant information to the right people via the right channel and at the right time, delegate tasks to the right people and monitor the progress and interfere when they need to. That’s why I always say your job as a leader is to be an outstanding firefighter - i.e. they …
are able to shift their focus and priorities to the most urgent issue(s) smoothly, whilst never loosing sight of the big picture
have a plan but are able to adjust when needed
think clearly and objectively and process the limited information at hand quickly and accurately to make the best possible decision with the information the have
stay calm in crisis, monitor the situation and respond (rather than react)
are accountable and take responsibility (and give credit where credit is due)
are resilient and continuously develop themselves to improve as a leader
have a clear vision and goals and are able to communicate them clearly and inspire others
are excellent problem solvers, i.e. able to identify risks and issues quickly and resolve them before they escalate
are excellent communicators and coordinators - they are able to communicate with all levels and stakeholders
are trusted and respected by others, and give trust and respect to others
are great role models and understand their responsibilities that come with being a role model
understand they cannot do it all by themselves - they delegate to the right people (for the right jobs) and empower them
build and maintain functional high-performing teams, and coach and enable them to perform and excel in crisis
remove distractions for their teams, so they can focus on what they do (and love)
So what does that mean for you? Do you have to be born leader or can you learn to be a great leader? The good news - it is a mix of learned behaviours, skills and habits as well as mindset that you either naturally are gifted with or can gain.
Where are you on your leadership journey? The first step is awareness through reflection to become the best version of yourself.
