You remember that famous line from the Wizard of Oz. The mere thought of the existence of these scary creatures was enough to mortify the characters of the movie. The problem is, the were so fearful of unknown that they worked themselves into a frenzy over it. This is what happens sometimes when leaders are asked to look at doing business in a new or different way... to go down a new road... a proverbial "yellow brick road." There's lots of danger and suspense. Bad things can be waiting around every corner. Indeed, that could be the case.
But great new opportunities could be waiting around the corner as well and if the leader is not willing to venture down the road, they'll never know what could await them. Go on... live life a little. Take some risk and try new things. Conservative leaders may survive, but they surely will not thrive!
Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, EFO, CFO
website: http://www.richgasaway.com/
Another Blog: http://www.woppyjawed.blogspot.com/
E-mail: RBG3100@aol.com
Showing posts with label mergers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mergers. Show all posts
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
A Few Good Men
I just got done watching A Few Good Men, one of my favorite movies. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is where Tom Cruise is prodding Jack Nicholson to admit he ordered a "Code Red." Cruise asks Nicholson for the truth and Nicholson responds with "You can't handle the truth!"
I can't tell you now many times throughout my 22 years as a fire chief I wanted to tell the elected officials and my bosses "You can't handle the truth" as they were contemplating budget cuts that would impact public safety. Most of the time, they didn't even ask the hard questions about impacts because... they couldn't handle the truth... and they knew it. Or, my boss would order me to make the council report devoid of the stark realities of the impacts... because the boss could not handle the truth.
As I read the headlines on fire service websites, I am saddened to see the fire service sustaining so many cuts, while other things move ahead full steam - like the one I recently read where they were cutting firefighter positions, but building a new baseball stadium. Good God!
It's easy for electeds to feel all warm and fuzzy when talking about building a new baseball stadium and it's damn uncomfortable to talk frankly about the stark reality that if you cut staffing, service levels suffer and the duties performed by the firefighters becomes more dangerous. There's not way to avoid it. That's the truth. But, as we sadly know, they can't handle the truth.
Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, EFO, CFO
website: http://www.richgasaway.com/
Another Blog: http://www.woppyjawed.blogspot.com/
E-mail: RBG3100@aol.com
I can't tell you now many times throughout my 22 years as a fire chief I wanted to tell the elected officials and my bosses "You can't handle the truth" as they were contemplating budget cuts that would impact public safety. Most of the time, they didn't even ask the hard questions about impacts because... they couldn't handle the truth... and they knew it. Or, my boss would order me to make the council report devoid of the stark realities of the impacts... because the boss could not handle the truth.
As I read the headlines on fire service websites, I am saddened to see the fire service sustaining so many cuts, while other things move ahead full steam - like the one I recently read where they were cutting firefighter positions, but building a new baseball stadium. Good God!
It's easy for electeds to feel all warm and fuzzy when talking about building a new baseball stadium and it's damn uncomfortable to talk frankly about the stark reality that if you cut staffing, service levels suffer and the duties performed by the firefighters becomes more dangerous. There's not way to avoid it. That's the truth. But, as we sadly know, they can't handle the truth.
Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, EFO, CFO
website: http://www.richgasaway.com/
Another Blog: http://www.woppyjawed.blogspot.com/
E-mail: RBG3100@aol.com
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Finding the good in a bad economy
We are officially in a recession. Now what? Companies are laying off record numbers of workers. Now what? State and local governments are predicting huge deficits. Now what?
As tax revenues decline, local governments will be forced to reduce budgets. This can result in significant challenges to the providers of local government services, especially those who provide essential services.
Fire departments who have done the same thing the same way for a long period of time may find it difficult to find creative solutions in these difficult times. However difficult it it may be, fire department leaders must break out of the "that's the way we've always done it" mold and think creatively. I know of no vocation that is required to be more creative on a regular basis than the fire service. However, you are used to solving other people's problems and this time the problem is yours.
It is harder to solve a problem when you are emotionally attached to it. No fire department wants to cut any services that dedicated personnel have worked so hard to provide. No fire department wants to see members receive a pay raise that does not keep pace with inflation. No fire department wants to merge with a neighboring department and risk giving up their identity. But all these things are on the table.
Challenging economic times like these do not create character, but such times will expose the character of your members and challenge your leadership. I encourage you to be strong, principled, rational, and above all else, open-minded as you look for innovative ways to weather this stormy economy.
Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, EFO, CFO
http://www.richgasaway.com/
As tax revenues decline, local governments will be forced to reduce budgets. This can result in significant challenges to the providers of local government services, especially those who provide essential services.
Fire departments who have done the same thing the same way for a long period of time may find it difficult to find creative solutions in these difficult times. However difficult it it may be, fire department leaders must break out of the "that's the way we've always done it" mold and think creatively. I know of no vocation that is required to be more creative on a regular basis than the fire service. However, you are used to solving other people's problems and this time the problem is yours.
It is harder to solve a problem when you are emotionally attached to it. No fire department wants to cut any services that dedicated personnel have worked so hard to provide. No fire department wants to see members receive a pay raise that does not keep pace with inflation. No fire department wants to merge with a neighboring department and risk giving up their identity. But all these things are on the table.
Challenging economic times like these do not create character, but such times will expose the character of your members and challenge your leadership. I encourage you to be strong, principled, rational, and above all else, open-minded as you look for innovative ways to weather this stormy economy.
Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, EFO, CFO
http://www.richgasaway.com/
Monday, November 3, 2008
Economic Opportunities
Unless you are living under a rock, you know we are experiencing tough times. High energy costs, home foreclosures, corporate and financial industry failures, stock market downturns... it all seems like bad news. But in this bad news, there may be opportunity.
As cities begin to feel the strain of these difficult economic times, so will the fire department. For example, I believe many fire departments will be asked to take budget cuts, to reduce staffing, to cut services, downsize training, and more.
When this happens, you will be at a crossroads. You can go down the path of slash and burn, painful cuts and reduced service. Or, alternatively, you can look for new and creative ways to ensure your customer continues to get great service.
Look at the way you provide services. Do you send a full response assignment to every alarm drop? Maybe you don't have to do that. Do you bring every member in from home for every call for service? Maybe you don't have to do that. Is your department surrounded by other communities who duplicates every service you provide? Maybe it's time to strike up some regional cooperation. Or... dare I say it... mergers and consolidations. When you eliminate the duplication of services, money is saved. Money that can be put toward ensuring the residents receive the same, or improved levels of care during difficult economic times.
These challenging economic times are going to require changes in the way you do business. Do you want to be pushed and forced to change? Or do you want to be proactive and a leader of change? The time to decide is now... because the forces of change are already set in motion.
Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, EFO, CFO
http://www.richgasaway.com/
As cities begin to feel the strain of these difficult economic times, so will the fire department. For example, I believe many fire departments will be asked to take budget cuts, to reduce staffing, to cut services, downsize training, and more.
When this happens, you will be at a crossroads. You can go down the path of slash and burn, painful cuts and reduced service. Or, alternatively, you can look for new and creative ways to ensure your customer continues to get great service.
Look at the way you provide services. Do you send a full response assignment to every alarm drop? Maybe you don't have to do that. Do you bring every member in from home for every call for service? Maybe you don't have to do that. Is your department surrounded by other communities who duplicates every service you provide? Maybe it's time to strike up some regional cooperation. Or... dare I say it... mergers and consolidations. When you eliminate the duplication of services, money is saved. Money that can be put toward ensuring the residents receive the same, or improved levels of care during difficult economic times.
These challenging economic times are going to require changes in the way you do business. Do you want to be pushed and forced to change? Or do you want to be proactive and a leader of change? The time to decide is now... because the forces of change are already set in motion.
Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, EFO, CFO
http://www.richgasaway.com/
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