Management Ain't A Bad Word!

According to comedian George Carlin, there are seven words you can't say on TV. These words are considered too offensive for broadcast, and have become infamous for their taboo status. However, there is another word in the world of leadership that has become equally taboo - management.

Management has long been perceived as a "bad word" in leadership circles. Many people believe that managers are simply bureaucratic figures who focus on enforcing rules and maintaining the status quo. However, this perception couldn't be further from the truth. Management is a critical aspect of leadership that can make or break an organization's success. In fact, great leaders must also be great managers in order to achieve organizational goals.

One industry where management is especially important is public safety. Whether it's police departments, fire departments, or emergency medical services, these organizations require effective management in order to operate efficiently and effectively. Let's take a closer look at why management is so critical in these industries, and what happens when it's absent.

One of the primary reasons that management is so important in public safety is that these organizations operate in high-pressure, high-risk environments. Police officers, firefighters, and paramedics often encounter situations where every second counts, and the wrong decision can have serious consequences. In order to operate effectively in these environments, these organizations need managers who can help them stay organized and focused.

For example, a police department needs managers who can create effective communication channels between officers, dispatchers, and other stakeholders. They also need managers who can help officers prioritize their work and manage their time effectively, so they can respond quickly to emergencies while still performing their other duties. Similarly, a fire department needs managers who can ensure that the right resources are deployed to the right location at the right time, so firefighters can quickly and effectively contain fires and other emergencies.

When management is absent or ineffective in these organizations, the consequences can be dire. For example, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many people criticized the New Orleans Police Department for its slow and ineffective response to the disaster. One of the primary reasons for this was the department's lack of effective management. Officers were not given clear instructions, communication channels were disrupted, and there was little coordination between different departments and agencies. As a result, the department was unable to respond effectively to the disaster, which led to loss of life and property.

In addition to helping organizations operate effectively in high-pressure environments, effective management is also critical for ensuring that public safety organizations are able to adapt to changing circumstances. Whether it's a new threat or a new technology, public safety organizations must be able to respond quickly and effectively in order to protect the public. This requires managers who can identify opportunities for improvement, develop and implement new strategies, and communicate these changes effectively to their teams.

For example, many police departments are now using data analytics to identify areas of high crime and allocate resources more effectively. This requires managers who can understand and utilize these tools effectively, and who can communicate their findings to officers in a way that helps them make better decisions. Similarly, many fire departments are now using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to help them assess the scope and severity of fires, which can help them allocate resources more effectively. This requires managers who can identify and implement new technologies, and who can train their teams to use them effectively.

Management is a critical aspect of leadership that is too often overlooked or dismissed. This is especially true in public safety organizations, where effective management can mean the difference between life and death. Great leaders must be great managers in order to achieve results, and they must recognize the importance of management in helping their organizations operate effectively and adapt to changing circumstances. As the examples from public safety illustrate, the consequences of ineffective management can be dire. We must therefore embrace management as a critical aspect of leadership, and invest in the development of the management skillset in order to help our organizations succeed.