Leveraging Your Why: The Power of Purpose Driven Leadership
Benjamin Martin & Jonah Smith
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
In this course, students will gain insight into the psychology behind sharing our “why” as leaders. We will discuss how providing others insight into the reasons behind our leadership decisions can inspire and motivate employees, increase engagement and commitment, and ultimately drive organizational success in ways that simply communicating “what” needs to be done cannot. This increased understanding can foster a sense of engagement and commitment among employees, leading to greater job satisfaction and productivity. Additionally, communicating the “why” can help employees understand the broader impact of their work and how it fits into the organization’s overall strategy, which can increase their sense of ownership and accountability.
But, when leaders fail to share their “why” or the purpose behind their actions, it can create confusion, mistrust, and disengagement among their teams. Without a clear understanding of why certain decisions are being made or what the ultimate goal is, employees may struggle to connect with their work on a deeper level and may become less motivated to perform at their best. Additionally, without a clear sense of purpose, employees may feel less invested in the success of the organization and may be more likely to seek out other opportunities that align more closely with their own values and goals. This can lead to increased turnover and difficulty in retaining top talent. Furthermore, failing to share the “why” can also result in misalignment among team members, as different individuals may have different interpretations of what the leader is trying to achieve. This can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and a lack of coordinated effort, which can ultimately undermine the success of the team and the organization as a whole.
Students will learn practical strategies for articulating your organization’s purpose, connecting employees to a larger sense of meaning and purpose, and aligning your team’s work with your organization’s overall strategy. You will leave this course with a deeper understanding of the power of purpose-driven leadership and the tools you need to communicate your “why” effectively.
Benjamin Martin
Over the last nine years, Dr. Benjamin Martin has become one of the country’s most sought fire-service leadership speakers, often presenting to standing-room-only classrooms. He provides leadership training workshops and keynotes internationally and throughout the United States, blending over 20 years of public safety experience with his doctoral degree in industrial psychology, leadership, and adult learning. His programs provide an entertaining and unfiltered view of various leadership topics, such as interpersonal communication, command and control strategies, conflict management, organizational culture and climate, systems thinking, and emotional intelligence.
He founded the popular website and leadership movement EmbraceTheResistance.com in 2017, focusing on supporting aspiring and existing leaders with his honest take on the challenges of leading others and yourself. In addition to his leadership blogs, he has been featured on most major fire service podcasts and is also a contributing author to several leadership books. He has also published articles in Fire Engineering, FireRescue, Fire Department Training Network (FDTN), International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI), FirefighterToolbox, and FirefighterWife. He is an Executive Officer and Acting Battalion Chief with the Henrico County Division of Fire in Virginia. You can email him at [email protected].
Jonah Smith
Jonah Smith grew up in Richmond, VA where his exposure to the fire service began in the Church Hill area of the RVA with some of the best firefighters in the city. Jonah attended the University of South Carolina for both a Bachelors and master’s and started with the Columbia Fire Department in 2003. After a few years, Jonah pursued a career with the Charlotte, NC Fire Department where he began in 2005. He served as a Captain from 2010 to 2021 serving on Engine Companies on the City’s South side and finished out as a Shift Safety Officer prior to being promoted. He is currently assigned as a Battalion Chief on B Shift for the City of Charlotte. Additionally, since the day he received his certifications in 2003, he has volunteered with departments including the Lexington County FD and Columbia Fire Department. Currently, he serves as a firefighter at the Indian Land Fire Department in South Carolina. Jonah is a 9-time FDIC instructor and has presented at numerous conferences to include: Firehouse Expo, Fire Rescue International, South Carolina Fire Rescue, Metro Atlanta Firefighters Conference, and the South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo. He is married with 2 children.
