Far too often, leaders in 9-1-1 centers are becoming overly defensive with — and disconnected from — their people. Make no mistake – there are many absolutely heroic leaders out there doing incredible things in their comm centers (I’m fortunate to know several of them). Forward-thinking leaders who are putting their people first and using…
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For the love of all that’s holy, get control of your compulsion for sustained, ineffectual, soul-draining meetings, people. Let’s be perfectly honest – meetings are a necessity. Well planned and executed meetings can get people on the same page, infuse groups with energy & purpose or share important messages. But I’m not talking about purposeful…
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There’s a simple fact about one of the most damaging scenarios you hear about whenever you talk to 9-1-1 teams: It’s universally curable, despite its ugly prevalence. The scenario: A handful of deeply resentful and bitter employees spew bile and cause strife, all while running rampant and completely unchecked. Except for the select chosen few…
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Nothing leaves a more lasting impression at work than the way we talk to each other. This is true of nearly any workplace scenario in which talking is necessary – but it’s especially true when we are communicating with each other under duress in a 9-1-1 center. When we are at our most raw and…
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28 years is a long time to do a thing. It isn’t nearly time enough to finish loving that thing. When I was hired as a 911 Telecommunicator by Springfield-Greene County (Missouri) 9-1-1 Emergency Communications in 1994, I certainly had no way of anticipating that I’d be penning a blog post 28 years later as…
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9-1-1 Director Kris Inman to join The Healthy Dispatcher as Director of Program Development Following his retirement after a 28-year career at Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications, Director Kris Inman will join The Healthy Dispatcher team as Director of Program Development. Joining forces with Adam Timm and team, Kris will continue his legacy of meaningfully…
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The work of emergency communications personnel is emotionally charged. Whether it’s working with callers, field units or fellow coworkers, the emotional dimension is often the most individually impactful, yet also the most overlooked. In fact, a career in public safety necessarily causes each of us to be less empathetic and less perceptive when it comes…
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My time in this corner of the internet has come to an end. It is my hope that the writings here have allowed you to a step back, even after your worst day on the job, and realize how special this career is. It’s truly a calling and a job that not everyone can do.…
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From a young age, society seems to teach that whatever we choose to do with our lives, it must pay well. Salary becomes paramount and is often tied to how much happiness one will experience in their chosen career. It’s not until doing the job that one realizes money and happiness aren’t necessarily tied to…
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In the typical workplace, understaffing can lead to decreased sales, a lost client or the requirement that other employees work harder, more quickly, and longer hours. Certainly, this can be difficult for existing employees. Understaffing at the office, however, isn’t likely to lead to injury or death of another person. Things are different in public…
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