Tag Archives: Crisis Management

FIRST TASK OF A LEADER

Communication, Emergency Management, Leadership, Meetings, , , , ,

FIRST TASK OF A LEADER 

IDENTIFY AND UNDERSTAND THE EXPECTATIONS OF YOUR STAFF ! 

 Successful Communication:

Joanne Hull | June 18, 2014

How confident do you appear?

Lack of clarity in your words, your questions, or your statements, usually concludes to your staff your own lack of clarity on the topic of your discussion and your overall objective.

Identify the expectation.

Your verbal message needs to model or match your non-verbal language and nuances and not act as a direct contradiction.

You’re being tested.

Be confident in what you communicate to your staff.  You’re being tested.  The old saying “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”, will ultimately decide if you are reliable.  Your staff needs to know that they can rely on what you say.  If you appear unsure, flustered or confused or off topic, you are perceived as no longer in charge of the situation.

Win their respect.

It is important to be respected not for your title but because you exude knowledge and confidence under very trying circumstances.  It is important to be credible to your staff.  When your words are secure, levelheaded and imperturbable you will stop being tested and start being respected.

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.

 

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.