In the early 20th century, a horse pulling a wagon would all of a sudden gallop towards a burning building nearby, endangering itself, the driver, & the passengers.
What was the reason for this peculiar phenomenon?
And why does this matter today?
The Firehorse Effect, a thread:
What was the reason for this peculiar phenomenon?
And why does this matter today?
The Firehorse Effect, a thread:
2/
Fire has been one of the biggest dangers that humans have faced ever since they started living in structures.
In the olden days, firefighting was a community responsibility.
When a fire broke out, the people in a town or a village would form a "Bucket Brigade".
Fire has been one of the biggest dangers that humans have faced ever since they started living in structures.
In the olden days, firefighting was a community responsibility.
When a fire broke out, the people in a town or a village would form a "Bucket Brigade".
3/
Visualize a double-line of people passing buckets of water from a nearby water-source to the fire, and sending empty buckets back to be refilled. That’s a Bucket Brigade.
Eventually, tanks of water, hand pumps, & hoses became the preferred firefighting equipment.
Visualize a double-line of people passing buckets of water from a nearby water-source to the fire, and sending empty buckets back to be refilled. That’s a Bucket Brigade.
Eventually, tanks of water, hand pumps, & hoses became the preferred firefighting equipment.
4/
Then came steam pumps, more powerful & efficient. Great, but the equipment got heavy & it became difficult for firefighters to pull it to wherever the fire was.
What to do?
Then came steam pumps, more powerful & efficient. Great, but the equipment got heavy & it became difficult for firefighters to pull it to wherever the fire was.
What to do?
5/
Enter horses. It wasn’t an easy change. Horses had to be trained to reliably run towards a fire. They also had to be strong.
As horses became more commonly used to pull fire engines, places like Detroit even created a Horse College, along with report cards for each horse (!)
Enter horses. It wasn’t an easy change. Horses had to be trained to reliably run towards a fire. They also had to be strong.
As horses became more commonly used to pull fire engines, places like Detroit even created a Horse College, along with report cards for each horse (!)
6/
What happens when one is trained to do a job well, is systematically evaluated, & rewarded or punished based on job performance? One often gets rather good at that job.
Same with these firehorses.
What happens when one is trained to do a job well, is systematically evaluated, & rewarded or punished based on job performance? One often gets rather good at that job.
Same with these firehorses.
7/
At some point, a firehorse would be retired from the firefighting job & given the job of pulling wagons on the street.
A new job!
Things were generally fine in the beginning.
At some point, a firehorse would be retired from the firefighting job & given the job of pulling wagons on the street.
A new job!
Things were generally fine in the beginning.
8/
But...........
Whenever a former firehorse heard a fire alarm or felt the presence of a fire nearby, it instinctively galloped towards the fire: terrorizing its drivers, passengers, & owners.
But...........
Whenever a former firehorse heard a fire alarm or felt the presence of a fire nearby, it instinctively galloped towards the fire: terrorizing its drivers, passengers, & owners.
9/
This firehorse did a rather poor job in its new context due to the very behaviors and patterns that were reinforced in its old context.
Twitter, this is the Firehorse Effect.
This firehorse did a rather poor job in its new context due to the very behaviors and patterns that were reinforced in its old context.
Twitter, this is the Firehorse Effect.
10/
The Firehorse Effect is why some accomplished business leaders fail to inspire, create a compelling strategy, eliminate drama, or rebuild the culture when they take on a leadership role in a new organization.
The Firehorse Effect is why some accomplished business leaders fail to inspire, create a compelling strategy, eliminate drama, or rebuild the culture when they take on a leadership role in a new organization.
11/
The Firehorse Effect is also why a manager with a string of prior successes is just unable to execute at your startup.
The Firehorse Effect is also why a manager with a string of prior successes is just unable to execute at your startup.
12/
What can be done about the Firehorse Effect?
As with most such things, the solution needs to be grounded in Self-awareness, Organizational-awareness, & Sound Management.
Leaders in a new setting should regularly think about the Firehorse Effect.
What can be done about the Firehorse Effect?
As with most such things, the solution needs to be grounded in Self-awareness, Organizational-awareness, & Sound Management.
Leaders in a new setting should regularly think about the Firehorse Effect.
14/
Leaders in a new setting should take the time to observe & learn.
Doing is important, but doing without a deep understanding of one’s new role can be frustrating or even fatal.
Leaders in a new setting should take the time to observe & learn.
Doing is important, but doing without a deep understanding of one’s new role can be frustrating or even fatal.
15/
The leader should invite people to challenge them. Ask "X has worked for me in the past, will it work here?"
And the leader's managers & mentors need to help accelerate this process by candidly sharing organizational context & feedback during the leader's early days.
The leader should invite people to challenge them. Ask "X has worked for me in the past, will it work here?"
And the leader's managers & mentors need to help accelerate this process by candidly sharing organizational context & feedback during the leader's early days.
16/
That's about it for today.
What are some examples you’ve seen of the Firehorse Effect?
How have you or other people overcome the Firehorse Effect?
What did I miss?
Share your observations and feedback below or over DM.
🔥🐴
That's about it for today.
What are some examples you’ve seen of the Firehorse Effect?
How have you or other people overcome the Firehorse Effect?
What did I miss?
Share your observations and feedback below or over DM.
🔥🐴
Footnotes:
Oddly, the inspiration for this piece came from a bedtime book I read last year for my son: “What was the Great Chicago Fire?”
For more about horses in firefighting:
firehistory.weebly.com/a-history-of-h…
Dalmatians & firehorses worked well as a team:
kearneyfire.org/History-of-the…
Oddly, the inspiration for this piece came from a bedtime book I read last year for my son: “What was the Great Chicago Fire?”
For more about horses in firefighting:
firehistory.weebly.com/a-history-of-h…
Dalmatians & firehorses worked well as a team:
kearneyfire.org/History-of-the…
