First In, Last Out: Leadership Lessons from the New York Fire Department - Hardcover

Salka, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1591840252 ISBN 13: 9781591840251

Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover, 2004

Synopsis

A veteran FDNY firefighter describes the field-tested management strategies that help commanders lead teams into a raging fire, explaining how the fire department develops loyalty, trust, and grace under pressure and how such principles as "first in, last out" and "develop your people" can be adapted by leaders in any field of endeavor. 50,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

After twenty five years in the most dangerous of all occupations, John Salka, Battalion Chief of The New York City Fire Department, offers tough and tender lessons in leadership. Salka masterfully leverages examples from fire fighting--"where lack of leadership can kill people"--to create values for leaders in every organization. He alternates vivid summaries of historic and terrifying fires (the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist factory, the 1993 World Trade Center explosion and ground zero) with metaphors from the firehouse to describe three commitments for decisive leadership. "Follow the smoke," is an imperative to uncover reality in yourself, your organization and your industry. Next, Salka counsels, "know their names before you send them into the flames," and encourages leaders to identify the contributions of each employee. The maxim, "Find your top whip" conveys ideas for developing future leaders and making a job into a classroom.

Other standout chapters focus on the nuances of building trust, clear decision-making and execution and tools for aligning individual and organization goals. Those expecting a macho approach to high-stakes leadership will be pleasantly surprised. Salka embraces intuition as "your subconscious trying to offer up a life time of experiences" and he explains how "managing emotional triggers" are ways of gaining competitive advantage. Salka's inspiring and passionate vision of leadership is a combination of reality testing, self-knowledge, and a shared mission when the heat is on. --Barbara Mackoff

About the Author:

John Salka rose through the ranks of the New York City Fire Department from firefighter to lieutenant, captain, and now battalion chief (the second highest command), a position in which he manages more than 150 men. He also teaches leadership to other fire departments across the country and to outside organizations like the U.S. Marine Corps. Barret Neville is a business book editor.

About this edition

• Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1591840252
• ISBN 13: 9781591840251
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240