How Coaching Works Before, During, and After a Crisis
Eric J McNulty Associate Director for Harvard’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative has spoken and written about how no leader knows everything during a crisis. So in order to lead through crisis, leaders must be curious, they need to ask questions so they can make sense of the situation. “Questions are more important than answers” he says. He also says “Questions keep people out of their emotional basement so they stay positive and looking forward”.
Non-directive coaching is about communicating effectively by:
Actively listening
Asking powerful questioning
and communicating directly
And…..it’s about facilitating learning and RESULTS by:
Creating awareness (situational awareness, intelligence)
Planning and Goal Setting (planning and objectives (IAP))
Designing Actions (tactics)
Managing Progress and Accountability (briefings)
I have learned one thing from being in the World of Emergency Management for nearly 15 years:
Some within the profession welcome questions.
Some see questions as a threat (especially if the questions are coming from those in the ‘lower ranks’).
And the ones that see questions as a threat, also believe that asking questions during a response is the wrong time (mostly because command and control typically means sit and do what your told).
As Eric J McNulty stated, during a crisis, “Questions are more important than answers”
Coaching works during all phases of Emergency Management. A professionally trained and accredited coach will use powerful questions to help leaders:
Define the real problem
develop solutions
find resources
identify measures for success, and
develop commitment and accountability
This process can take place in 10 minutes or over 12 months. It’s up to the person, group, or team being coached.
More than ever, leaders need their teams to be rock solid, to bring their ‘A game’.
If you are an emergency management professional without a team, or some type of support, you are going to have a very difficult time bouncing forward as we all move through COVID-19 and future events. If you don’t have a team, consider a mentor, a coach, or some other support who can help you through response, recovery, and being ready for the next event.
For information on Hazardscape Management Inc. visit our about page.
Author: Brad Ison is a professional disaster and emergency management coach. He’s held various position specific roles in the Alberta Provincial Operations Centre and had decade long career at the Alberta Emergency Management Agency where his focus was on Disaster Recovery and his last role served was as the Director for Training, Accreditation, and Standards.
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