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CASE STUDY: Retail Chain Evacuates During Hurricane
CASE STUDY:Retail Chain Evacuates During HurricaneBACKGROUNDHurricane Katrina; New Orleans, LA (2005) - Category 3 Hurricane (at landfall) that caused the[...]
How to Create and Maintain Institutional Knowledge
Many years ago, an overly ambitious jet-skier that couldn't swim, wasn't wearing a life-jacket, and had been reportedly drinking beer like[...]
How to Become a Mission Ready SAR Responder: Training, Certification, and Standards Explained
Lost Little Timmy Deserves Our Best: Why SAR Training and Certification Matter More Than EverWhen someone goes missing, whether it's[...]
Your Ladder is your Legacy – How to Win by Serving Others
The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain[...]
Stop Micromanaging, Start Communicating
'Communicating via micromanagement isn’t a personality flaw; it’s a breakdown in the fundamentals of delegation.' In the Harvard Business Review[...]
How to Improve Engagement during Virtual Meetings
Keeping people engaged in-person certainly has its challenges.  And as more and more meetings are conducted online, the need to[...]
The Gift of Intent and Understanding; Part 1
In 1905 an author named O. Henry published a short story called "The Gift of the Magi".  Here's the gist of it:Man and[...]
Special Treatment and Equal Treatment are Different
Read the news, trade journals, and industry 'insights' and you'll find conclusions that mostly deal with 1st-level consequences and solutions.[...]
Are Leaders Born or Made?
Newsflash: There are no born leaders (or born followers, either, by the way).So, how are leaders made?Sugar, spice, and everything[...]
How to Deal with the Faux Expert
From the newsfeed:"The proliferation of AI has led to a growing "faux-expert" crisis, allowing those with little actual leadership skills[...]
CASE STUDY: AAR of Pandemic Exercise
Pandemic Exercise – Enhancing Public Health PreparednessBackgroundOn April 12, 2024, a public health agency conducted a pandemic preparedness exercise, simulating[...]
CASE STUDY: Communication Breakdown in Crisis Response
CASE STUDY:Communication Breakdown in Crisis ResponseCopyright TEAM-Solutions.US All Rights ReservedBACKGROUNDThe Westfield Emergency Operations Center (EOC) [named changed for privacy] was activated[...]
Everybody is Nodding – But Nobody is Aligned
How Collaboration Bias Is Quietly Killing Your Team's Best DecisionsThe meeting was supposed to produce a decision. I was brought[...]
Leadership and Free Choice
When leading a) ourselves or b) others, many choices lay ahead.For instance, when leading your team into battle against the[...]
4 “What” Questions that Improve Resilience
Quick—can you name a resilient organization?How about the local dry cleaner that trims its hours because they can’t find new[...]
The 5 Best Questions to Earn the Best Results
Some leaders command, but great leaders communicate. For whatever leadership role you currently hold (remember, everyone is a leader), ask[...]
How I failed as a leader … and how you can avoid the same mistake
Once upon a time I failed as a leader...Okay, so it happens regularly, but let's just focus on one of[...]
The Evernote Effect: Why AI Adoption Follows a Pattern You’ve Seen Before
More than 2 decades ago, one of my fave mentors suggested I start using Evernote as my "second brain".  Initially,[...]
The Future of Training
What's the future of training?  How long will professional instructors be relevant in front of a classroom? One could argue[...]
CASE STUDY: AAR of Cyber Intrusion
Cyber Intrusion – Responding to a Data Breach in a Financial InstitutionBackgroundOn September 8, 2024, a major financial institution experienced[...]
Pundits, Pontificators and Perspective
So. Many. Experts. Online and in-person it's hard to miss bumping into someone labelled an expert at something. What is[...]
How and When to Reward People and Teams … and When NOT to.
... Or should we even reward folks at all?After being bombarded with the 'everyone earns a ribbon' strategy, a little[...]
What’s in a Name? Crisis Edition
Johnny Dangerous ... cool name.Cool Hand Luke ... cool name.Henry Herpes ... not so cool name (especially if your real[...]
Smooth like butter is life’s lubricant?
If you opened this link based on the title alone, you either like butter or have time on your hands?[...]
3 Steps to Better Training
Personally I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught. ~ Winston ChurchillOur language is a[...]
What Peeing The Bed Can Teach Us About Better Leadership
If you have kids, you've likely gone through the ritual of helping them grow out of peeing the bed. If[...]
Is it Too Soon to Establish Your Legacy?
How soon is it too soon to start thinking about your legacy?Are you going to wait until you near the[...]
3 Steps to Becoming a Better Leader Among Leaders
Being a leader among leaders, we all have a unique opportunity to inspire and motivate those around us.Whether managing a[...]
Beware of the Shiny Toy; Why Your Strategy Stinks
Each morning that I'm in town I spend precious time with my elementary aged son during the daily processional known[...]
CASE STUDY: The Origin of L.C.E.S. for Firefighters
CASE STUDY:The Origin of L.C.E.S. for FirefightersCopyright TEAM-Solutions.US All Rights ReservedBACKGROUNDArizona, 1990:  Six (6) firefighters died after being overrun in a wilderness[...]
4 Key Ingredients Baked into High-Performing Teams
Building and maintaining a high-performing team (agency, organization, company, etc.) is a fickle thing. Just having a dominant voice, some talented[...]
Teach to Learn to Teach
Picture this ...You've need to make some travel plans but your flux capacitor is broken and in need of repair.The[...]
Oh, Just One More Thing
"Oh, by the way ... just one more thing ..."Often, this last minute utterance at the end of a meeting,[...]
AI Revolutionizes Risk Management: Foresee & Mitigate Risks with Confidence
In today's fast-paced and unpredictable world, leaders must navigate a complex web of risks. From financial instability to natural disasters,[...]
The 10 Biggest Response Leadership Challenges (and How to Solve Them)
Intro:Unplanned events expose leaders to response leadership challenges that textbooks don’t prepare you for. Whether you’re running a county EOC,[...]
When to Trust AI (and When to Run Like Hell)
A field guide for CEOs who actually sign the checksYou're being sold AI like it's oxygen. Every vendor, every consultant,[...]
Why Doth Thee Protest? 4 Steps to Overcome Resistance
Shakespearean reference aside, the question doth does beg answers to the questions:WHY don't team members accept the why and/or the[...]
Top Down v. Bottom Up Leadership
A new acquaintance recently asked about my business. I told him that I help response leaders improve, among other things.[...]
How to Get Started in K9 Search and Rescue (Without Wasting Time or Money)
You’ve seen the teams. You’ve watched the dogs work. And maybe you’ve even wondered if your dog - and your[...]
CASE STUDY: How Much Does It Cost To Be A Search & Rescue Volunteer?
Ever wonder how much it costs to be a Search & Rescue Volunteer?  Your answer is below.CASE STUDY:Search & Rescue[...]
Your Organization’s Decision Metrics Are Broke – Here’s How to Fix Them
Andrew Chen recently published a piece on unconventional business metrics that caught my attention. Among his examples - "Lies per[...]
Emerging Leader? Start Here.
Over 30+ years I’ve been fortunate to have gained a broad base of experience in several different industries in both[...]
Why Your Definition of Span of Control is Wrong (and How to Fix It)
"No man can command more than 5 distinct bodies in the same theater of war."   Napoleon I (1815) And[...]
Clarity Is a Journey, Not a Destination
... And Other Things the Gurus Won't Tell YouTerms that rub a raw spot:"Irregardless""Outside the box"Labels (Millennial, Gen Z, Gen[...]
Should You Hire a Strategic Advisor in 2026?
Every founder eventually reaches the same quiet realization:"I'm working harder than ever, and the company is still resisting me."This is[...]
Which Ballpark are you in?
If you're a leader in an organization with customers who rely on your communication skills to be successful with your[...]
SITREP Your Way to Greater Success
Ever experience this?Question:"Hi, Honey, welcome home. Please tell me about your day?"Reply:"It was fine. The boss was in a grumpy[...]
Get Things Done and The Sequence of Response
Little Timmy is missing after the tornado and is reportedly trapped in the collapsed building.  He is likely running out[...]
CASE STUDY: Ego and Dysfunction at Community Event
CASE STUDY:Ego and Dysfunction at Community EventCopyright TEAM-Solutions.US All Rights ReservedThe city manager directs the police department to develop a special[...]
Disaster Declarations and Emergency Powers Simplified
Disaster and Emergency DeclarationsImagine this ... a global pandemic is impacting the entire country (USA).  You see news reports that[...]
CASE STUDY: AAR of Tornado Response
Tornado Response – Lessons from an Emergency Management AARBackgroundOn May 10, 2024, a category EF-4 tornado tore through Springfield County,[...]
The 4 Parts to a Successful Mission Pre-Plan
Have you heard the story of Bill and his garage project? It goes something like this:Bill needs to clean his[...]
Soccer, Leadership, and Legacy Building
When I published my 2nd book, The Legacy of Leadership, I was frankly a little surprised to learn how little[...]
Leadership Tip: Obstacles v. Problems
As a manager, a parent, a coach, etc., all of us at one time or another has faced a version[...]
Helping those with Functional Needs during a Disaster
Folks with functional needs have been historically under-served before a disaster strikes (think:  "notice event" like a hurricane versus a[...]
When a leader gets pulled in too many directions …
We've all been taxed with choices and opportunities beyond our ability to tackle them all: Holiday party invites, an extra[...]
Management vs. Leadership: The Tale of Two Paths
In a bustling city, nestled among towering skyscrapers and busy streets, two paths diverged within the walls of a prominent[...]
Leadership Lessons: Activism and the Workplace
The world we share continues to shift before our eyes.Some shifts are widely seen as positive ...Some shifts are widely[...]
Improve Communication … Lessons from Search & Rescue
The problem with communication is the illusion that is has occurred. ~ George Bernard Shaw Ah, communication. The first thing[...]
Whack-a-Mole in the Classroom for Student Engagement?
Actually, whack-a-mole in reverse.  For, you know, better student engagement. (Had a sheltered childhood and don't know the game? Check[...]
Questions That Leaders Ask
Imagine spilling your milk (or any other unplanned event). Unpleasant, right?Questions That Leaders AskTo move on, Crisis Leaders seek answers[...]
Building Trust By Doing 1 Simple Thing
Building TrustHaving someone's trust is kind of like having a winning lottery ticket ... either you have it, or you[...]
Best Advice: Simple or Complex?
I occasionally prowl around social media. Somewhere along the line, the advertising overlords discovered my self-employed, entrepreneur status. My web[...]
CASE STUDY: Leadership Micromanagement
CASE STUDY:Leadership MicromanagementCopyright TEAM-Solutions.US All Rights ReservedBACKGROUNDThe Browerville Fire Department has 24 stations so far in service to their growing community.[...]
7 Types of Leaders During a Crisis
In the movies, the heroic leader is often seen charging at the enemy with their saber rattling and a fierce battle cry.Just like in[...]
Using Learning Taxonomies to Improve Training Outcomes
As students we know that not all of the training content we receive is of equal quality. As instructors, it's[...]
AI’s Institutional Phase Has Begun – And Most Leaders Still Think They’re in the Adoption Era
The early AI era is over.Not because the technology stopped advancing - it hasn't. Not because the hype died down[...]
How to Mark a Building After its Been Searched?
“Rescue 4 on scene and has command ….”An EF3 tornado has torn through your community, and you know it’s bad.[...]
How to get from HERE to THERE?
In 2005, during my USAR team's response to Hurricane Katrina, we were repeatedly tasked - along with thousands of other[...]
The 7 Steps You Must Take Before Evacuating a Healthcare Facility
New Orleans, LA (2005) - While searching for survivors and evacuees in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, my USAR (Urban[...]
Criticize with Care – How to get action instead of acrimony
Ever notice that criticism gets a bad rap, generally speaking? Not the "you're ugly and your mother dresses you funny"[...]
Difference between Energy and Power
In mid-February 2021 a winter storm blanketed - in every way possible - the State of Texas.  What made this[...]
CASE STUDY: Corporate Office Shelters in Place During Hurricane
  CASE STUDY: Corporate Office Shelters in Place During Hurricane Copyright TEAM-Solutions.US All Rights Reserved BACKGROUND Hurricane Wilma; South Florida (2005)[...]
0 for 4 and the Myth of Failure
“I tried and tried, but failed to bring him back to life. It was clear he was gone. That was[...]
Requirements for Team Engagement
When seeking great Team Engagement, we've heard it before. "Bring the passion!" "Have a purpose!" We hear the battle cries,[...]
What Peanuts and Soccer Teach us about Visionary Success
Luiz Felipe Scolari is a legendary soccer player and manager.  Born in the seat of worldwide soccer excellence, Brazil, Scolari[...]
TEAMS Are What TEAMS Do – When Team Building Goes Awry
Despite our best efforts and intentions, sometimes we make mistakes in our approach as business owners, managers, coaches or parents.[...]
Instruction or Coaching/Mentoring?
Simple definition, okay?Instruction - telling people what to do or how to do it.Learning is mostly pedagogical, which means that[...]
Stepping On or Stepping Out? Rules for Classroom Etiquette.
When I first started instructing for a living (versus as an occasional sideline), I was eager and intensely interested in[...]
Teaching Tip: Tactics or Strategies?
__CONFIG_leads_shortcode__{"id":"12898"}__CONFIG_leads_shortcode_____TVE_SHORTCODE_RAW__<p>I recently facilitated an exercise for some folks who were enrolled in their organization's leadership development program. The more strategic[...]
Simplifying the Complex by “Sifting Folly”
"Sifting Folly"What a glorious phrase, eh?I was reading one of my favorite blogs (FarnamStreetBlog.com) and this phrase really got my[...]
3 Steps for Instructors to Improve Student Outcomes
As trainers, we all enjoy the thought of our students gazing into their bright future while pondering the transformative lesson[...]
Why I don’t Instruct with PowerPoint … and what I use instead
Confession: I've abandoned the use of Microsoft PowerPoint for presentations.Mostly.Here's the caveat ... some of the courses I deliver are[...]
How Leaders Quickly & Effectively Improve 2-way Communication
Orange, TX, September 13, 2008 -- Members of Texas Task Force One and Two come together for a quick field[...]
“It’ll Work Out” Plus 4 Other Lies People Tell
Have you worked with or for folks that like to use that saying?  I have too ... and in nearly every[...]
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