Project Metrics
Getting the Most from Your Consultant
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At my first meeting with a client when starting a project, I always ask the same question, "How will we measure success?" The usual response I get is a blank stare, followed eventually by something along the lines of, "Well, there's a list of deliverables in your proposal."
Confusing deliverables with the expected outcome of a project is a common mistake that is often encouraged by rigid contracting rules. But deliverables are merely a means to achieve an outcome of some sort. It is that expected outcome that should be the focus of your project, not the deliverables. To ensure you get that outcome you must be able to articulate what it is you want to achieve and identify metrics that will tell you when you've got the results you wanted.
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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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An Example of How to Handle Media Briefings
 | | Chairman Hersman's briefs media on Asiana flight 214, July 7, 2013 |
Deborah Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, won kudos for the clarity and professionalism of her briefings on the crash of Asiana Airlines flight 214 in San Francisco on July 6. This is the first of her briefings on NTSB activities. She has no previous experience with aircraft but has obviously been well briefed and has done her homework, which allows her to establish instant credibility with the media. Pay particular attention to how she handles questions - this is where a briefer can be forced off message or lose credibility.
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Newsletter Archive
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Greetings!
Welcome to the July issue of Emergency Management Solutions. This is certainly turning into a busy summer for many of my colleagues. It seems everyday I pick up the paper and read about some new disaster. Here in San Francisco we've been dealing with the Asiana Airlines crash on July 6 that killed 3 and injured dozens.It's a reminder that we live in an unsafe world and that the work we do is extremely important.
Remember that in addition to this monthly newsletter, you can also follow my personal blog Canton on Emergency Management or my new blog in Emergency Management Magazine Managing Crisis. |
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Regards,
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Professional Development
One of the hallmarks of successful crisis response is creativity. But how do you develop your creativity? Emergency management is dominated by very task-oriented individuals who are comfortable in hierarchical organizations. Thinking outside the box is sometimes very uncomfortable. One way to build creativity is the study of historical disasters. There really is very little that is new in disaster response and seeing how others either succeeded or failed is useful. It builds up a memory bank of possible approaches that you may be able to use in your own crisis and can help you avoid the mistakes of the past. I happen to be a history buff, so reading historical accounts is pleasurable for me. But there are other ways to access history and you should use a method that suits your learning style. For example, there are numerous videos on historical disasters available on YouTube, through inter-library loans, and for purchase. One interesting way to gather information is by interviewing people who have been through disasters, either survivors or peers. People love to tell stories and oral histories can help bring the past to life. Not sure where to start? Try the Learning Resource Center at the Emergency Management Institute. They've got a lot of information on line and can provide others through inter-library loans. |
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More years ago than I care to remember, the Army sent me through a "confidence course" as part of my ROTC summer camp. The course involved negotiating a series of obstacles designed to play on two common fears: height and water. I could swim from an early age, so I was fine with the water part. But climbing shaky towers and dropping from height into water definitely got my heart racing and my palms sweating.
The funny thing is it worked. By the end of the day, I was ready to do it again. By taking me out of my comfort zone my instructors had showed me that the things I feared where all in my mind and that I could accomplish more than I thought if I let go of those fears.
So what takes you out of your comfort zone? Speaking to groups, conducting telephone interviews, serving as incident commander? Learn your boundaries and then work to stretch them. Work to overcome your fears by facing them. Personal growth doesn't just happen; it requires effort.
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From the Bookshelf
The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History
While not directly related to emergency management, this controversial book uses history, biology, and psychology to attempt an explanation of why there is conflict among societies. Bloom likens societies to biological organisms with humans as the individual cells. He then incorporates psychological concepts such as pecking order to argue that humans are driven by memes (ideas) as an organism is driven by genes. He uses historical examples to bolster his thesis, spending considerable time on Islamic fundamentalism. This is interesting reading, since the book was written pre-9-11. You will not agree with everything in this book. You may even find some ideas offensive. But this book will definitely make you think.
Looking for more books? Check out
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Looking for a Speaker?
Need a speaker for your next conference? I offer keynotes, seminars and workshops. You can find more details on my website or on my SpeakerMatch page.
 | | Lucien Canton Seminar Excerpts |
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