Fire Chiefs Share How to Lead in a Crisis
Last week, I had the honor of keynoting the annual Executive Fire Officer Program graduate symposium sponsored by the U.S. Fire Administration. One of the things I sometimes do is ask members of my audience what they think about an important question and then share their answers with you. Since I was speaking to an audience of fire department chiefs from across the United States, I thought that this was a perfect group to ask for advice on how to lead in a crisis. Seems like a timely topic. After all, what leader hasn't been doing some crisis management lately?
These folks had some terrific stories and wisdom to share. Some of the highlights include:
What the chief of the Boca Raton, Florida fire department learned from leading the response to the 2001 anthrax attacks on the headquarters of American Media International in his city.
- The relationship between trusting your team and staying calm in a crisis.
- How preparation and risk assessment can get you ready for the unexpected.
- Why it's important to take a step back when a crisis begins.
- How to project confidence in a tough situation.
Let these people know what hit home with you by leaving a comment. Do you have some crisis leadership tips of your own? Share them here so others can learn from your experience.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Executive coach Scott Eblin’s goal is to help you succeed at the next level of leadership. Throughout the week, he’ll offer his take on the leadership lessons in the news and his advice on your most pressing leadership questions. A former government executive, Scott is a graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and is the author of The Next Level: What Insiders Know About Executive Success.
Last year I took the class to become a member of the Redondo Beach, CA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). This course was presented by our local fire department and is well worth one's time. The premise is that knowing how to respond will enable one to manage the stress and danger that accompany an emergency. The more individuals become aware of this information the less chaotic and dangerous our response to emergencies. We are required to take a refresher test each year to ensure we are aware of latest info and we remember all we learned. This is a valuable investment of ones time and I highly recommend to everyone.
Sharon Charles Posted Thursday, April 23, 2009 4:32 PMMay be the best that i can share some of the leadership tips is always to stay calm and focus on to whatever the situation that may arise.
This tips may not come from a trained officer but it will really help to knowing and analyzing the situation on what good you can do.
Stanley Lee From Devis peinture
Stanley Lee Posted Sunday, September 18, 2011 9:58 AM