By Jamie Thompson
EMS1 Senior Editor
DALLAS — Creating a focus for an organization is one of the key issues EMS managers face, a session at EMS Expo was told Thursday.
During his presentation at the conference in Dallas, Chief Tim Holman outlined how agencies can improve performance and become more effective through a range of measures such as attitude, empowerment and image.
Ensuring both the agency and members have focus is a critical area that should not be ignored, according to Chief Holman, of German Township, Ohio, Fire and EMS.
“Most people and organizations, when they get into crisis mode, abandon the team concept,” he said. “Everybody has their own agenda and are going in their own directions.
“It’s important for us in crisis mode to pull people closer together and not allow them to fragment.”
Agencies also need to work toward building a climate of trust — and leaders need to lead the way by displaying integrity in all of their actions, the session was told.
“Image is what people think we are — integrity is what we really are,” Chief Holman said. “I’m big on that integrity thing.
“If you compromise your character or integrity, you lose effectiveness. If you lose effectiveness, you lose credibility with your organization and with the people within that organization. Never allow anyone to make you compromise your integrity.”
Chief Holman said anyone who works in public safety needs to realize they are held to a higher standard than the public.
“I have had several discussions with people who say that’s not fair,” he said. “I am not saying it’s fair, but if you don’t like it you should be in a different occupation.”
During the presentation, Chief Holman broke down the concept of integrity into three areas:
- Consistency: Are you the same person no matter who you are with?
- Choices: Do you make decisions that are best for the organization when another choice would benefit you?
- Credit: Are you quick to recognize others for efforts and contributions?
“I will go as far as saying when you get a suggestion from one of your people, try to implement that whenever possible,” Chief Holman said.
“Some suggestions may be small, but if they see it implemented with their name on it, I will guarantee bigger and better suggestions will come, and that’s a good thing.”