Functional leadership: what is functional leadership and how can you be an exceptional functional leader?(EXCEPTIONAL)

What is functional leadership? What defines a functional leader? What makes functional leadership exceptional? Let's look at these one at a time.

Let's start by defining function. Within the context of this short article, a function is industrial hygiene, safety, environmental quality or any combination thereof. A functional leader is a practitioner of any of these functions and not necessarily the boss.

Who are functional leaders? Any EHS professional is a functional leader because we invariably are the resident experts--i.e., leaders--in many scenarios. And by that, I don't mean we are the people sitting in the corner office.

For example, at the work site or department level, if you are the health and safety coordinator, safety engineer or EHS professional, you are the leader of the health and safety function. Or maybe you have EHS responsibility at the business unit or corporate level. Once again, you are the leader of your function.

This concept came to me when, as a rookie industrial hygienist, I was designated as …