Incident Command System-Meetings

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

Joanne Hull |May 27, 2014

Good morning!

Welcome 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.