000h...
Yesterday’s unplanned activity was a ride in an ambulance. Not in NYC and definitely not on my do list yesterday morning.
It turns out followership is everywhere once you start paying attention.
Matt and Andrew the ambos (paramedics) were great – caring, professional, lowering the OMG! level, making sure the cats weren’t locked in the bedroom as we left…
Their interactions with me and with each other made it almost impossible to work out who was the senior professional. Indeed the assumption I initially made was incorrect - the more junior member of the team was the one taking the lead. The senior was asking advice, checking before doing anything, actively and literally stepping back. The junior stepped up, assertive, decisive, and confident. And from time to time the roles switched with the more junior seeking guidance or more information.
It was a text-book example of effective and fluid followership.
According to my son, who was a St John Ambulance cadet for a number of years, the junior usually takes the lead in patient care as a more effective way to learn and develop skills. It makes good sense, but only works when both partners are able to both lead and follow well and at the appropriate time.