9/11 Leadership Lessons

What’s the Latest Development?

NYC Fire Department Battalion Chief Joseph Pfeifer was on a routine call near the World Trade Center when disaster struck on September 11, 2001. He rushed to the scene and was the first FDNY fire chief to take command. In this interview he shares insights on leadership and crisis management. 

What’s the Big Idea?

Pfeifer says one thing learned since 9/11 and other major events is that during a catastrophe leaders do more than just manage the incident. “When we look at leadership during a disaster, whether it is in an emergency response or in business or in nonprofits, it is the combination of what we call C5: command and control, connect, collaborate and coordinate.”