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The Carr Fire in California |
After the horrific fires in the Wine Country last year, we had hoped to be spared another bad fire season here in California. Unfortunately, that's not the case, both here and around the US. This is a typical newscast from the current major fire and it shows both the incredible level of destruction and the acts of kindness that characterize disasters. Unfortunately, it also shows some of the things that people do that might put them or emergency responders at risk. |
The following are excerpts from my blog
Canton on Emergency Management. Please visit my blog to see the rest of my articles.
Misinformation can cause unnecessary anxiety, particularly when you confuse possibility with probability.
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What Is The Leadership Challenge?
Is leadership a learned behavior or an innate personality trait? While there are certainly naturally charismatic individuals who are considered "born leaders", leadership is a measurable set of behaviors that can be learned and taught. This is the conclusion arrived at by researchers Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner after years of rigorous research. Starting in 1982, Kouzes and Posner set out to understand what happened when leaders performed at their personal best. They conducted hundreds of interviews and reviewed hundreds of cases studies and survey questionnaires. What emerged were five fundamental practices common to extraordinary leadership achievements:
- Model the Way
- Inspire a Shared Vision
- Challenge the Process
- Enable Others to Act
- Encourage the Heart
The Leadership Challenge begins with a 360-degree assessment of thirty leadership behaviors associated with the five practices, the Leadership Practices Inventory. The results are used to identify opportunities for improving as a leader by increasing the frequency of specific behaviors. Based on over thirty years of research, the Leadership Challenge is an effective and practical tool for leadership development.
To find out more about the
Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership
, consider taking
The Leadership Challenge
. Just click on the icon below for more information:
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Click here to take The Leadership Challenge |
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The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations
by James M. Kouzes & Barry Posner
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The Leadership Challenge is a registered trademark of John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.
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Free Resource Guide for Solo Consultants
For solo consultants, true wealth is discretionary time. Don't waste yours on simple tasks that can be handled by technology. This free resource guide reveals the four essential online tools I use to manage my solo consulting practice and save hours of valuable time. And the best part is - they're free!
Interested in exploring the world of consulting? My membership site might be just the resource you need to get started. You'll have access to blogs designed to answer very specific questions, a resource library of templates and articles, the opportunity to network with peers, and discounts on coaching and training programs. Download the free guide or click on the logo above to go straight to the site.
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M
y Blogs
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Welcome to the July edition of Emergency Management Solutions.
I'm currently in Ireland for a family reunion and it's been interesting. Ireland, for the first time, is experiencing a drought that has resulted in voluntary water rationing. In a country where there has never been a charge for water (indeed, there was a major uproar several years ago when the government tried to charge for water to improve the infrastructure), this is a big deal.
At the same time, we're following fires in Greece and record high temperatures in Japan. In the United States, there are over 60 wildfires burning and my own state of California is battling a major fire close to the areas that burned last year.
It's a reminder that no matter what country we belong to or the languages we speak, emergency managers face the same issues.
Regards,
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Telling Your Story
Techniques for Holding Your Audience's Attention
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Last month I made the case for thinking like a storyteller as you prepared your presentation. But while preparation is important, you still need to actually speak before an audience. Speech coach Darrin LaCroix points that there is no substitute for experience. In his words, the three most important things in learning to be a good speaker are, "Stage time, stage time, stage time."
However, even if you are new to public speaking, learning a few of the basic techniques used by professional speakers can immensely improve your presentations.
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If you are having trouble viewing my featured article, try clicking on the link at the top of the page. You can always find my articles in the white paper section of my blog site,
Canton on Emergency Management.
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IAEM Conference
I've written numerous times about the importance of attending professional association conferences. For emergency managers, THE conference to attend is the annual
IAEM conference.
There's a lot going on at the conference. As with any conference, there are numerous presentations on a wide range of topics. There is also an exhibit hall that will take you hours to get through and spark a lot of new ideas. What makes the conference unique and is for me the most important benefit, is the chance to network with fellow practitioners and members of the academic community who are helping to forge our specialized body of knowledge.
One other big plus: For the first time,
pre-conference training from FEMA, EMAP, and the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center will be offered at no cost.
IAEM makes it easy for you. They have a page devoted to helping you
justify attendance at the conference to your boss.
Hope to see you there!
New FEMA Independent Study Course
The National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF), developed in conformance with Presidential Policy Directive-8, outlines the basis for a national approach to disaster recovery. The NDRF defines how we will work together to best meet the needs of individuals, families, communities and states in their ongoing efforts to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to and recover from any disaster event
Professional Development Opportunities
Oct 19 - 25
Grand Rapids MI
The goal of the IAEM Annual Conference is to improve knowledge, competency level and collaborative skills. IAEM accomplishes this by attracting relevant high-profile speakers to address current topics and practical solutions.
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Why is Balance Important?
Over the years, I can never decide if I'm a joiner. On the one hand, I'm not that much of a social animal and limit my involvement in organizations (or avoid them!). On the other, I have been a member of certain professional and social organizations for years. My wife pointed out last night that I have been a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism for over twenty years; I had thought it much less.
I think the reason I'm leery of organizations is that I have seen too many people allow themselves to be defined by the organizations to which they belong. You know the type. It's the person cannot adapt to retirement because they were so defined by their job. It's the person who cannot talk about anything else but their hobby or social group. Remove that single source of self-definition and it's like they cease to exist.
The science fiction writer, Robert Heinlein, once gave a laundry list of all the things that a person should be able to do. It was a rather eclectic list that included things like conning a ship and butchering a hog. I'm not sure that I'd measure up but I do agree to a certain degree with his final statement, "Specialization is for insects!" This is not to denigrate specialists but rather the mindset that limits us to a single way of thinking about life. We should be willing to learn new things and try new ways.
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T he Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire
By Kyle Harper
There are many reasons for a society's collapse, some obvious and catastrophic, others more subtle. Climate changes fit the latter category. Climate change is an example of cascading effects where a change can have extended ripple effects.
This is the premise of Kyle Harper's book,
The Fate of Rome. He makes a strong case for how a shift in the climate of the Mediterranean beginning in the third century led to a weakening of the social structure and, eventually, to the fall of Rome. This is not just a case of simple cause and effect. Harper considers more complex issues of social vulnerability, such as how the vast trade network and large cities aided the spread of disease.
The book can be heavy going in parts but other sections are extremely fascinating. While Harper does not stress this, there are obvious parallels to our modern area that make this book a cautionary tale for emergency managers.
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Emergency Management: Concepts and Strategies for Effective Programs
by Lucien G. Canton
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Need a speaker for your next conference? I offer keynotes, seminars and workshops.
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Three Reasons Why I'm the Right Speaker for Your Conference
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Speaking Engagements
It's the End of the World! What Do We Do Now?
Oct 24, 2018
Grand Rapids MI
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