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.

Want to learn more from the experts in crisis management and leadership? I captured it all with my trusty Flip video camera and you can see it all in 4½ minutes by clicking on the You Tube screen below.

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.