I recently had the opportunity to meet with some 911 pros and asked what is their #1 concern. It may not surprise you that it is morale and retention.
They are intrinsically linked.
Self Care
When people are overworking with mandatory overtime, their self-care goes down.
When self-care goes down, people get sick more easily.
When people are sick, they miss work,
When people miss work, mandatory overtime increases,
People become exhausted.
They get cranky.
They snap and snarl at other people.
The culture becomes toxic.
When the culture becomes toxic, people leave.
Which brings about more mandatory overtime . . .
Which makes it harder to bring new people in.
Are Your People Just Mean and Nasty?
Are your people just nasty Nellies who can’t get along with other people?
NO!
They are suffering symptoms of compassion fatigue.
Sounds awful, what do I do?
You can intervene at any point of this vicious circle.
Find a source for extra help. Turn over every rock, explore every option, talk to whoever will listen.
-Tap into field units who are willing to fill in
-Contact your government officials to help them recognize the emergency
-Explore options to tap into neighboring ECC’s to offer extra opportunities for their staff.
-Start an Explorer Program just for communications
Address toxicity
-Do not allow incivility to go unaddressed
-Work with your team to establish a code of behavior
-Be consistent in addressing slip ups
Your self care
I can feel you sighing from here. It seems like too much. It’s all impossible.
That negativity is an indicator that your self care is lacking.
Your own self care is the most important asset that you have. When you are overwhelmed and exhausted and not caring well for yourself, you cannot lead your team out of toxicity.
The best thing you can do for your team is care well for yourself.
If you don’t know how to do that, that’s where I come in.
My work is in encouraging and empowering you to take charge of your well-being.
There is hope for your workplace culture, too.
I can help you with it. Whether it is in workshops, individual mentoring, or consulting, I’m here to help.
