As a leader in public safety you experience daily challenges. In my own growth experience, I’ve had to ask myself a serious question: When it comes to training, am I leading or settling?
Now, I can only share my personal experience, and I know that training standards differ from state to state. In North Carolina we have a 911 Board that approves training and instructional material. However, there is no state mandated training program or standard to adhere to. The responsibility rests solely in the hands of the communications director or department head.
When developing a training program for my center I networked and conversed with other leaders in public safety. I was surprised at three common responses:
--“We want training but it costs too much!”
--“Training? Who has the man power for it?”
--“What training?”
The mindset is that resources are limited, or that the budget will not support the need. Others seemed to believe that regardless of effort, training would not change the behavior or performance of their employees.
As I pondered over the challenges I decided not to settle or take on the other roadblocks of others. Instead, I decided to become a creator. I implemented a departmental standard and offered training and development for my people.
In a nutshell: I developed my own training. I found budget money. I took action.
My Challenge and Encouragement to You:
Decide not to let budget dictate to you how to support the growth and development of your employees.
Liability in this profession is great and settling in excuses of not providing adequate training or development of your employees will be very costly.