Whether you work in law enforcement, as a firefighter, or an intelligence analyst, keeping the public safe and protected should be your number one priority. If you are passionate about making a difference and want to take charge, becoming a public safety leader may be the right option for you.
Before you apply for such positions, it’s important that you possess the soft skills and attributes needed to motivate and guide your team through emergency situations. With that in mind, here are 10 essential skills that can help you flourish in your role.
Assessment: When it comes to ensuring public safety, you will need to learn how to identify potential hazards within your local community, as well as identifying how to eliminate or prevent risks. There are all sorts of dangers that can be hazardous, such as unsafe buildings, structurally compromised bridges, as well as topographical features that make an area more prone to flooding, natural disasters, and wildfires. As a public safety leader, you will want to converse with other experts to help pinpoint vulnerabilities and nip any problems in the bud.
Planning: No matter the profession, planning is a key skill that you must possess when working as a public safety leader. Communities expect their leaders to have a contingency plan in place which can be used to address natural disasters and hazardous threats. Your plans need to be fully developed and implemented to address all safety scenarios, as well as carry out risk assessments.
Communication: Working as a public safety leader requires you to have excellent communication skills. Whether it’s engaging with colleagues, third-party vendors, or members of the public, you will need to learn how to engage with people from all different kinds of backgrounds. There are many benefits of effective communication, such as:
• Building trust
• Increasing engagement
• Providing clarity and direction
• Preventing or resolving problems
• Promoting team building
Training: Your ability to develop and train other individuals will be put to the test when working as a public safety leader. Having a well-coordinated team where each member of the force understands their duties and responsibilities is crucial for tasks to be completed successfully and according to plan. Regular training can keep you up to date with the latest trends and developments in your sector. Some of the benefits of training include:
• Improving weaknesses
• Staying informed and updated
• Increasing job satisfaction and motivation
• Boosting confidence and self-esteem
Problem Solving: During a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake, a public safety leader needs to think on their feet. Your main duty will be to resolve issues that occur with the available tools on hand, however, you may not always have access to the supplies that you need, so knowing how to improvise and do your best is crucial. Public safety leaders need to learn how to strategize too, as well as be on guard for possible complications along the way.
Motivation: A critical leadership skill that public safety managers need to possess is how to motivate others in the team. A good leader will know how to inspire others to work at their best, which can help boost confidence and self-esteem. Public safety leaders are responsible for encouraging their team to provide feedback in staff meetings, as well as being on hand to offer guidance and support throughout. There are tons of benefits that come with having a well-motivated workforce, such as:
• Better productivity
• Lower levels of staff turnover
• Lower levels of absenteeism
• Better communication amongst employees
Sincerity: While believing in your abilities is one thing, having the capacity to instill confidence in others is a far greater challenge. If an emergency or disaster has struck your community, it’s only natural that local residents may be feeling anxious and stressed, so it’s up to you to gain the trust of the public by showing genuine sincerity when providing news updates. Not only will the public have more faith in you, but your workforce will take you more seriously too. Speaking with conviction and acting on principle can go a long way and help build a positive reputation for yourself.
Resilience: Depending on the scale of the public safety situation you face, your strength and patience will be tested. While you may have spent a considerable amount of time planning and prepping, there will still be delays, disruptions, and potential destruction that may shock you during recovery efforts. To help get you through any situation, having high resilience can make all the difference. There are tons of health benefits that come with learning resilience, such as:
• Reducing stress levels
• Giving you a sense of control
• Ability to re-frame your situation
• Cultivating positive thinking
Listening: Throughout your career as a public safety leader, understanding the importance of active listening is crucial. Whether it’s engaging with fellow members of your team, or engaging with the local community, listening to what people have to say and taking their thoughts and ideas on board is paramount. Understandably, your number one priority will be to keep those around you safe and protected, so if any members of the public have any concerns, listening and addressing their problems can help build trust. Some of the benefits of active listening include:
• Gaining more in-depth information
• Conflict resolution
• Providing a better overall outcome
Education: Before you can qualify as a public safety leader, it’s important that you gain the qualifications needed to succeed in the role. Completing a Masters in Public Safety can equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to work in numerous departments, such as law enforcement.
No matter the sector of public safety you work in, keeping the community safe should be your top concern. To perform your role effectively, possessing all the essential skills listed above will help you take charge and keep you, your employees, and local citizens safe.
Partaking in a leadership development programme can really improve leadership skills immensely.
Thanks for the wonderful article. It helps me a lot.
Thanks for the wonderful article. It helps me a lot.