Category Archives: Ego and Self-Esteem
Bravado: A Barrier to Situational Awareness
I recently sent out a message across my social media networks (Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) about bravado being a barrier to situational awareness. The message, in case you missed it, read: Bravado: The purposeful ignorance of critical signs of danger … Continue reading
Posted in Accountability, Crew Resource Management, Culture, Decision Making, Ego and Self-Esteem, Emotions, Fear, firefighter situational awareness, Human Behavior, human factors, Safety, Situational awareness, Situational Readiness, Teamwork, Training
Tagged bravado, bravery, decision making, decision making under stress, dispatch, emergency management, EMT, fire, fire command, fire command training, fire training, firefighter safety, firefighter situational awareness, fireground command, fireground command decision making, fireground commander, fireground safety, haz-mat, hazardous materials, line of duty death, officer safety, paramedic, patient care, police officer safety, public safety, rescue, responder safety, risk management, safety, situational awareness, Situational awareness matters, tactical decision making, technical rescue
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Culture can be a Situational Awareness Barrier
Each member of the fire department is guided by a unique system of values, beliefs, assumptions and norms. Every members also brings their own unique habits and routines. What happens when you combine the values, beliefs, assumptions, norms, habits and … Continue reading
Posted in Accountability, Communications, Complacency, Culture, Decision Making, Ego and Self-Esteem, Emotions, Fear, firefighter situational awareness, Human Behavior, Leadership, Safety, Situational awareness, Teamwork
Tagged communications, decision making, decision making under stress, fire service leadership, firefighter safety, firefighter situational awareness, leadership, organizational culture, safety, situational awareness
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Administrative chiefs and emergency responses
I recently received an email from a firefighter asking for my opinion as to whether or not the administrative chief officers in his department should respond to reported structure fires. My initial response was: “Well, Duh! Yes!” But then I … Continue reading
Posted in Accountability, Crew Resource Management, Decision Making, Ego and Self-Esteem, firefighter situational awareness, Incompetence, Safety, Situational awareness, Staffing, Standard Operating Procedures/Guidelines, Teamwork, Workload Management
Tagged fire chief, firefighter safety, firefighter situational awareness, fireground safety, ICS, incident command, incident management, situational awareness, strategy and tactics
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How could they be so stupid?
Recently I was having a conversation with a fire commander who shared the following experience. He stopped by one of the stations for a visit and came upon a group of firefighters huddled around a computer screen watching videos. Relax. … Continue reading
Posted in Communications, Crew Resource Management, Culture, Decision Making, Ego and Self-Esteem, firefighter situational awareness, Human Behavior, Incompetence, Leadership, Safety, Situational awareness, Training
Tagged decision making, firefighter safety, firefighter situational awareness, incident command, judgment, leadership, situational awareness
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The irrational obsession with loss
There is a growing body of research revealing that many human’s have an irrational obsession with loss. Or, perhaps more accurately, an irrational obsession with AVOIDING loss. This phenomenon is something I have seen played out in my evaluation of … Continue reading
Posted in Complacency, Crew Resource Management, Culture, Decision Making, Ego and Self-Esteem, Fear, firefighter situational awareness, Leadership, Mayday and RIT, Safety, Situational awareness, Stress
Tagged decision making, firefighter safety, firefighter situational awareness, fireground command, fireground command situational awareness, groupthink, loss aversion, obsession with loss
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Nine Dangerous Mindsets: Part 9 – The Synergist
Welcome to this, the last of the nine part series on dangerous mindsets. From the feedback I’m getting, this series hit some chords with readers. I appreciate the kind words about my observations and the advice I’ve dispensed throughout this … Continue reading
Posted in Accountability, Communications, Crew Resource Management, Culture, Decision Making, Ego and Self-Esteem, firefighter situational awareness, Safety, Situational awareness, Teamwork
Tagged decision making, firefighter safety, freelancing, gasaway consulting group, incident command, independent action, leadership, situational awareness, teamwork
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Nine Dangerous Mindsets – Part 7: The Superman/Superwoman
Welcome to installment seven of the Nine Dangerous Mindsets series. While these mindsets may have many dangerous implications, my focus is to bring light to how they can impact situational awareness and first responder safety. I have been receiving some … Continue reading
Posted in Communications, Crew Resource Management, Decision Making, Ego and Self-Esteem, Fear, firefighter situational awareness, Human Behavior, human factors, Leadership, Safety, Situational awareness
Tagged communications, decision making, ego, fire chief, fire command, firefighter safety, firefighter situational awareness, incident command, incident commander, introvert, leadership, public safety, safety, self-esteem, situational awareness
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Nine Dangerous Mindsets – Part 6: The Silent
Before I get into this topic, I want to give a little shout out to attendees from my “Get in the Loop” tour stops so far in 2012. If you haven’t been following my Twitter updates (including my surviving a … Continue reading
Posted in Communications, Crew Resource Management, Culture, Decision Making, Ego and Self-Esteem, Fear, firefighter situational awareness, Human Behavior, human factors, Safety, Situational awareness, Stress
Tagged communications, decision making, ego, extrovert, fire chief, fire command, firefighter safety, firefighter situational awareness, incident command, incident commander, introvert, leadership, public safety, safety, self-esteem, situational awareness
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Nine Dangerous Mindsets – Part 5: The Stubborn
Welcome to the fifth of the nine-part series on dangerous mindsets that can impact first responder situational awareness and, subsequently, their safety. In this article I am going to address the stubborn team member. This individual can be described as … Continue reading
Posted in Accountability, Crew Resource Management, Culture, Decision Making, Ego and Self-Esteem, Fear, firefighter situational awareness, Leadership, Safety, Situational awareness
Tagged communications, decision making, ego, fire chief, fire command, firefighter safety, firefighter situational awareness, five step assertive statement process, incident command, incident commander, leadership, public safety, safety, self-esteem, situational awareness, stubborn
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