GAS LEAK! How to get people to evacuate – or not!

This morning I had an interesting experience.  I heard the telltale deep rumble of a very large diesel engine in the neighborhood and looked to see what I could see.  I observed a firetruck slowly backing down my street.  This is not an every day occurrence.  I was intrigued.

Firefighter #1
I went to the door to find a firefighter walking door to door.  He politely explained that there was a large gas leak in my neighborhood, and that the fire chief had asked for everyone to evacuate for safety reasons.

Since I’m none too keen on being in the middle of a gas explosion, I was happy to do just that.  He told me that there was a bus coming and if I wanted to get on it, they could get me to safety, or I could drive out of the neighborhood if I preferred doing that.  I was happy to go along with his plan.

I went back inside, grabbed my essentials for the day, and headed out in my car.

Firefighter #2
As I pulled away from the house I very quickly came to the place where the street was completely blocked by a fire engine sitting next to a parked car.  There was a firefighter in the street talking to some pedestrians.  I waited for him to finish, then watched as he carefully avoided eye contact with me and walked away.

I got out of my car and politely asked if I could please get by.  He said.  “Everyone needs to evacuate the neighborhood immediately.” He also said “There’s nothing but firetrucks behind me.  If I move, you won’t get past them.  Start walking.”

I said “But I have work to do today.”
“and I have lives to save.” he retorted.

I appealed with “I’m in the danger zone now, right?”  He indicated that was true, and that I needed to leave.  I said – I want to leave.  Again, very disrespectfully, he gruffly replied “Start walking.”  He then turned away from me and slowly walked to the chief’s car.  I guess he showed me who had more positional power in this situation.

I have nothing but respect for the fact that firefighters will walk into a burning building to save lives.  I’m glad that they were looking out for my safety and protecting my neighbors.

Angry after being disrespected and thwarted, I got in my car, I backed up, turned around, and drove to the other end of the street where polite and helpful firefighters and police officers let me drive away.

What was my attitude and response to firefighter #1?
What was my attitude and response to firefighter #2?

Was the goal achieved of safe evacuation?  Who was more effective?

When you’re working with people, are you firefighter #1 or firefighter #2?

You get more flies with honey than with vinegar.  Learning to influence without offense is a key part of Raising Your Game.

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