Leadership: Some Discredited Theories

For the past several years, I have been studying the subject of leadership. Given the frequent email complaints that I receive regarding bad leadership, I have decided that this is one of the most critical areas of fire department operations. As a result of my time in the research mode, I have come to one not-so startling conclusion. Leadership is neither a simple, nor an easy area within which to operate. The pitfalls are many and the dangers immense.

During the course of my research and review, I have identified at least a dozen different styles of leadership. Each of these styles is accepted within the world of academic research and writing. Rest assured that there is no common agreement as to the one best way to lead people. Each of these has its proponents and its opponents.

My mission in this week