So here I am, after a long deserved (at least in my eyes) ten day vacation. I have contemplating for sometime now what to begin this blog with and this morning it dawned on me (no pun!!). What better than the on going ever argued supervisory style. One of my cohorts in EMS (and oddly the writer of EMS and Fire Software) often discuss the unique styles of running the show.

Over the years I have seen many different persons try many styles of managing not only an agency, but the personnel in it. Some work, some don’t (some only lasted a week!).

What is most different about an EMS agency and the people in it? Well nothing and a lot.

It is a business. As you climb, crawl or claw your way up the primordial EMS supervisory food chain, it becomes more apparent. You have to make a profit. No profit… no ambulances, personnel and equipment. On the other hand, it’s not the Acme Widget Company. Late widgets only make your customers mad. Late paramedics and EMTs can cost lives. Most of the local agencies are volunteer based. How do you balance the need for profit and the people who make it for you?

Leadership not management.

Lets be clear about this. You can manage an airway, you can manage a restaurant, you can manage an ems agency. You cannot, however manage people.

People need leaders.

“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.”

“The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.”

Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf

Be human
I have missed Christmas (I remember my partner and I trying to fit in visits home so the kids could open presents between calls), birthdays, social and family events. When I tell an employee they need to work Christmas, they know I have exhausted every other option for them. Take the time to ask how a vacation was, how are the kids doing in school.

Be consistent
If, in fact you exhaust every option for Medic A in finding coverage for Christmas, make sure you exhaust every option for Medic B on their anniversary so they can have dinner with their significant other.
If in fact your agency has policies, especially regarding employees, make sure you enforce them uniformly (this in fact protects you!). If they need to be changed, work with the employees to have them changed.

Be willing
Many a time, the last thing I had to do after a very bad call was clean the back of the ambulance. Imagine what it feels like to clean up the remnants of a life, after you have fought to save it. Be willing to go out at 3am to clean the back of an ambulance. I was once asked by a member of a board of directors why I was cleaning the mens room. The crews have had several calls, behind on paperwork, and no lunch as of yet (Chinese take out DOES NOT reheat well the third time!).

Do the right thing. One of my favorite movies is Crimson Tide. The pretext of the movie is the release of nuclear weapons from a submarine and the idea of do you follow the rules or do the right thing.

Be open with your expectations

Make sure everyone knows what you expect of them. From the new hire, to the head of the corporation, don’t leave them guessing. When the time comes (and it will) to call someone in on the carpet, there will be no surprises.  I have dogs at home. One is a chocolate lab, the other is a red siberian husky. The husky, being younger will roll over and expose her belly, being submissive. Being placed in that position will only serve to undermine your leadership role, both in the eyes of the folks you lead and those who lead you.

Just when you think you’re ready to run away screaming, toss a shrimp on the barbie and take ten days away!



Posted by Steve on August 15, 2007 | Permalink & Trackback