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JUDGE THE IDEA NOT THE PERSON

Chief of staff, Leadership,

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JUDGE THE IDEA NOT THE PERSON

Joanne Hull| June 12, 2014

A new approach may have potential.  Leading your staff through the myriad of global disasters requires a value on innovative ideas and an institutional commitment to partnership.

Ideas and innovation become the incubator for a successful response and recovery plan and influence the possible outcomes on the impact to the society and to the environment.

New ideas provide a conceptual system of approach. They are the backbone providing a framework for a successful emergency response, recovery and a successful unified command.

Leaders encourage new ideas.

One good idea provides many contributions and contributors to a final design.

Take a chance….LISTEN.

You may just hear a compelling argument to the how and why it can be done.

Challenges faced on disasters are far too complex and far too unpredictable not to allow new discoveries and/or fresh approaches.

New ideas provide more opportunities for transforming every disaster response and recovery into continued successes.

INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM–MEETINGS

Emergency Management, Incident Command System-ICS, Meetings, , ,

Incident Command System-Meetings

Subtitle:  Where’s my seat at the table???

Joanne Hull |May 27, 2014

Good morning!

conference table for blogWelcome to the morning briefing.  Come prepared but only attend if you’ve got a seat at the table.

It’s the one concept of Incident Command System or ICS ,  that will cause the most hard feelings.   With the Command Positions that I’ve held working over 70 declared disasters and emergencies throughout  the country, if I’ve heard the complaint once, I’ve heard it a thousand times…..Where’s my seat at the table ???

Let’s step back and gain some perspective, shall we?

FACT::  No one likes meetings.

FACT: Meetings are the necessary evil that goes with the territory on any job.

That’s why the concept of the Incident Command System’s meeting structure has gone mainstream.  ICS dictates the participants.  Yes, it’s hierarchical by definition but, it’s also effective.  The command staff teams pass information to the general staff who communicate meeting minutes through the chain of command to their workforce.  There are no free tickets, no nose bleed seats, and no extra participants at these meetings. It is a structured and disciplined meeting, and off-topic is not allowed.  Everyone at this table better is on time and prepared.  If not, you can be sure you will be called out by the Incident Commander and, that’s not a pretty sight……nothing personal, it goes with your ICS title.

This meeting is not an excuse for discussion instead of decisions making.   Outcomes of this meeting are quite the contrary.  Decisions are made at this meeting due to the input of its participants. This meeting is not a spectator sport.  These meetings hit the ground running. The format is defined by clear goals and clear outcomes balancing competing ideas with factual information.

There won’t be an assertive blowhard struck by a sense of self-importance at this meeting that likes to hear him or herself talk because the meeting stays on point.  This is not the meeting for an over-sharing holiday and self-back pats.  There is never a need to bring your entire entourage because by the rules of this meeting it is up to you to brief your staff.   If a Subject Matter Expert (SME) from your team is needed then a separate sidebar session will be called with your section taking the lead.

What is the beauty of this meeting?   Answer: Something gets done!

Now, go ahead attendees and do your job.  Pass the word to your staff and tell them to be happy that they’ve dodged one less endless meeting bullet in their life as a disaster worker.  And, be sure to tell them that they will survive the  rush of adrenaline that these assignments tend to produce.

DISASTERS NEVER STRIKE IN ISOLATION

Disaster Planning, Emergency Management, ,

Disasters Never Strike In Isolation

Joanne Hull | May 6, 2014

It’s not enough to know your job and, certainly in the disaster business no one has the luxury of working in isolation.  Disasters never strike in isolation.  Quite the contrary, they strike with an unprecedented magnitude that requires disciplined leadership, management and extensive collaboration across all sectors of government agencies, communities, business and industry.

In order to prepare, respond, or mitigate any of these natural or man-made challenges, multidisciplinary collaboration must be incorporated on each event.  Flawless integration of all sectors allows each Emergency Manager and Disaster Employee to expedite the recovery process without disruption.  When the disaster universe becomes aligned, and all stakeholders’ work together sharing and collaborating, this approach takes positive results to an entirely new level.   Understanding and managing different degrees of expectations and being receptive to different perspectives foster successful outcomes.

Manage the plan,

                     Manage the outcome,

Recognize divergent approaches.

 

MIX UP YOUR ROUTINE AND LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN !

Additional Topics, Disaster Safety,

Mix Up Your Routine -AND- Look Behind The Curtain !

Hotel Safety On A Disaster 

Joanne Hull | April 9, 2014

A few years ago, a friend of mine came back from the gym to find her hotel room door ajar.

She admits to making several mistakes:

First Mistake:   She opened her door and since she didn’t see anyone, she went inside the room.

Second Mistake:  She exited the room and called the front desk from her cell phone while standing in the hallway.

When the hotel security and police officer arrived, they made her wait outside while they checked the room. They checked the obvious places and the not so obvious places……under the bed and behind the curtains.

Yes, some of her personal items were missing but my friend was lucky.   You never enter a room when the door is opened and who, for goodness sake, would ever think to look behind the curtains?   That said, possibly my friend’s biggest mistake was her routine.  Every evening, she went to the gym.  The hotel that she was staying at provided a courtesy shuttle both ways.   She left the same time every night and returned a couple of hours later.

Her consistent timeline made it easy for a perpetrator to gain easy access unimpeded. When away from home for long periods of time…… mix up your routine and, look behind the curtains!!

See HOTEL SAFETY TIPS 911 from the Travel Channel:  http://www.travelchannel.com/video/hotel-safety-tips

Rob Pralgo explains how to avoid thefts, Wi-Fi  hackers and fire-hazard hotels.  Everyone’s circumstances are different however, use this entertaining video as some safety food for thought!

CHARACTER IS EVERYTHING !

Additional Topics, Disaster Planning, Emergency Management, Motivation, Inspiration,

Character is Everything !

Joanne Hull | April 9, 2014

Isn’t it interesting just how much you can tell about a person working on a disaster in a matter of seconds ?  If someone is not moved by the emotional events surrounding their arrival and they can break it down to the lowest financial denominator to leverage value to their own wallet and length of their own personal timeline, that tells you everything you need to know about their character.  What more is there to say?

Maybe this……….”You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”    Coach John Wooden-UCLA, Aka- Wizard of Westwood.

 

THIS STORY HAS A MORAL

Disaster Planning, Emergency Management, How To Prepare,

THIS STORY HAS A MORAL

TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY—-HOW TO BE PREPARED ON VACATION (subtitle- A Little Piece Of The Job Has Rubbed off On Me).

Joanne Hull | March 24, 2014

I admit, I’m not the easiest person to vacation with! 

Let’s face it, when you spend the majority of your life traveling and your day job is disasters, it’s difficult not to notice things that most of your happy vacationer friends won’t be looking for.   I don’t go on vacation with the mission critical presumption- to have fun- cannot fail.

Touch Down- Tropical Island Paradise ??

The minute the plane touches down and the rest of party heads to the hotel to throw on a bathing suit, I’m back in the car off to get supplies.  For Instance; plenty of water, non-perishable food, flashlights. I make sure the car is always filled with gas, I will only stay in a hotel with a backup generator,  never book a room on the ground floor no matter how close to the  water that private patio is and, I always carry a weather radio.

Why you ask?? 

I’ve been in plenty of tropical storms and hurricanes on the job.   Try to find water or pump gas without electricity, try to find food or, see how you feel when your room heats up to over 100 degrees without a backup generator.  See how you feel when your shoes and suitcases are floating on the floor when water comes through the patio door or, how you feel when the lights finally go out and you can’t see your hand in front of your face.

My Friends think it’s funny (for now).

Two days later, they weren’t laughing when a storm hit our beautiful “tropical island paradise”.    Lights out all over the island, wind howling and, one by one they came climbing up the stair and knocking on my door.  It’s amazing what happens and how popular you become when you are the only one in the group with a dry room, sustenance, libations and light.  A veritable port in a storm…….pun intended !!!

Moral :

Even a tropical paradise has a dark side.  Go prepared!

ALL HAZARDS PLAN…..FOR ME !

Disaster Planning, Emergency Management, ,

ALL HAZARDS PLAN……FOR ME!

Joanne Hull | March 12, 2014

I’ve written my share of disaster, contingency, recovery, and continuity of operations plans in my career.  I’ve prepared the plan, exercised the plan, and played it out in real- time as Chief of Staff or as Chief of Operations on some very large disasters and emergencies throughout the country.  I certainly know the intensity for quick recovery from catastrophic events.

In light of the changing world we live in and the wrath of “Mother Nature” or violent man-made events, normal operations for me is still quite different than most of my friends who are not in my profession.

I don’t go into any situation believing that an outside source will address any of my needs in the event of an emergency.   I expect much less from outside assistance and much more of myself.

 

THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL !

Additional Topics, eulogy, Reflections,

THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL 

 A Eulogy To My Mother

Joanne Hull | February 25, 2014

Once upon a time there was a beautiful lady with platinum blonde hair, big green eyes, signature red nails, and a heart made of gold.

 

 She had the inner strength, grace and courage that most of us could only wish for.  She protected her loved ones with a loyalty as fierce as a lioness protecting her cubs.   Even in declining health, she taught them to stand tall and face any challenge that life has to offer with dignity, just as she had done throughout her life, with an uncompromising integrity that was awe inspiring.

 

My mother died last week.

 

 I watched her face death with courage and a stoic unwavering dignity that swelled me with pride.  She died on my birthday.  She hung on to be with me for my birthday.  

 

 I miss her already.  I will celebrate her life and carry her in my heart every day.

 

 To my beautiful Mother.  The fairest of them all.

 

 I Love You.

Joanne Hull 

Eulogy for my Mother

 

My Take Away !

Chief of staff, Musings, Reflections, ,

MY TAKE AWAY ! 

All disasters end !

Joanne Hull | February 19, 2014

No matter how long you live in a strange state, the time comes…..You have to go home.

When I pack my bags to leave a disaster I take away something as well.   I don’t mean my nameplate on my office door, or the tons of clothes jammed in the tiny closet.   No, not the tangible things.

Think about it!   During hard times you hear more good stories than bad–community helping community, neighbor helping neighbor.

The mind has that special way of filtering out all of the painful stuff to let you focus on the good.

What I take away is something that lasts forever because it’s something you can’t pack in your bags.  I take away something you pack in your heart…lots of memories and many, many lasting friendships.

Maybe That’s The Answer !

Chief of staff, Musings, Reflections

MAYBE THAT’S THE ANSWER!

Well, maybe that’s it !

Joanne Hull | February 19, 2014

Just maybe that old saying that ended my last post ……”Find a job that you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life, is the answer”.  

As difficult as the job can be and as heartbreaking as the devastation and destruction is that you see, when you finally call it a day, there is a sense of satisfaction that you get knowing that you’ve been able to help ( maybe in just a small way) people facing some of the most difficult times of their lives.

All of these years later, it still feels right!