Inclusive leadership and the adaptive organisation: A work-based study of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

Inclusive leadership and the adaptive organisation: A work-based study of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

Historically, public safety organisations, including police, fire and emergency services, have been influenced by an alignment to paramilitary or quasi-military origins in the context of organisational origins and the ensuing influence on organisational structures and leadership styles. However, reliance on command-and-control leadership styles and hierarchical operating models are progressively being challenged. Increasingly, such organisations are facing new and emerging issues and risks that impact at the local, national or global level. A switch in focus is required to enhance the development of capabilities to be more than the traditional command-and-control style leadership by bringing forward a focus on people-orientation, supporting and valuing the ability of leaders to leverage different perspectives for an organisation to be more adaptive. This work-based project explores the perspectives of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) workforce in relation to the influence inclusive leadership capability has on the ability of an organisation to be adaptive. Research methods included semi-structured interviews with a cohort of executive and senior leaders, and a modified Delphi approach undertaken by a cohort representative of the QFES workforce. Practice-based processes, systems, and learnings were used for the engagement of potential participants, calls to action, and management of communications with participants. This research offers an initial contribution to address gaps in literature regarding inclusive leadership capability and its impact on organisational adaptive capability. the study identified a strong association between a person experiencing inclusive leadership capability through their leaders as having a positive effect of inculcating inclusive leadership to take forward into their own leadership style. The research has emphasised an intrinsic link between inclusive leadership capability of QFES leaders and the ability of QFES to be an adaptive organisation. This finding has significance for the implementation of the new Queensland Fire Department (QFD) on 1 July 2024 as the organisation navigates its way as a new department.

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