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So who's really in charge?

When an incident or crisis is declared and your crisis team is activated, the team leader will not always be the most senior individual.

Obviously, the best person to manage the situation, should.

Your crisis plan must anticipate that communication, liaison and other special responsibilities will frequently remove the most senior people from effective hands-on management of an incident. Preparation, planning and training can ensure that your crisis team still has good leadership without their presence.

However, for many people relinquishing control, particularly in a crisis, is not easy and it is critical that the team leader really is in charge. Complications can arise if old habits and expectations about authority confuse the situation. Any dissent over who's really managing your response during an incident must be eliminated before it occurs.

The crisis manager needs to be clearly identified as having the authority to make critical decisions and to act during a crisis situation.

One of the best, and simplest, ways to ensure this authority is apparent to all is with special signs or symbols. When an incident is declared, the designated incident manager dons a clearly marked vest, hard hat or sash and everyone knows who is in charge.

If an incident is upgraded to a crisis, a different vest may be worn, whether or not the individual in charge changes. This clearly signals the escalation to everyone, as well as showing who's really in charge.

Quote of Note

"The question: 'Who ought to be boss?' is like asking: 'Who ought to sing tenor in the quartet?' Obviously, the one who can sing tenor."

Henry Ford

© Kerrie Mullins-Gunst
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