Posts by Rick Davis
Are You Practicing the Skill of Listening?
The title of last week’s blog was Are You Listening? Listening is an active skill, and the process goes far beyond staring at the other person when they are speaking. In his book, Situational Awareness for Emergency Response, Dr. Richard B. Gasaway writes, “The act of listening requires a substantial amount of cognitive horsepower.” He…
Read MoreAre You Listening to Me?
Recently, I had the opportunity to teach a class to a group of singles in our church and the topic was anger. I asked, “What makes you angry?” Some of the answers included things, other drivers, little/older siblings, and not listening. Not listening Why does this happen and what prevents people from listening to someone…
Read MoreThe Timing of Decision-Making
The statue in the photo above is of General George S. Patton, Jr., taken in front of the General Patton Memorial Museum in Chiriaco Summit, California. Patton, known as “Blood and Guts,” was one of the greatest generals in American history and he knew how to make decisions. The Importance of Timing Most people won’t…
Read MoreDo You Want to Be a Successful Decision-Maker?
Think back to the last time you and a group of friends tried to decide where to eat. You asked, “What are you hungry for?” or “Where do you want to go?” Do you remember the ten-minute debate that ate away at your lunch break? Why is it so hard to make a simple decision?…
Read MoreDecisions: “The Most Difficult Part of My Work…”
“The most difficult part of my work is acting without correct information on which to predicate action.”¹ These words, written by Major General George G. Meade on July 6, 1863, capture the challenge of leadership and decision-making under uncertainty. Fresh from the Battle of Gettysburg, Meade understood that leaders often make decisions with incomplete information,…
Read MoreCollaborative Decision-Making: The Key to Success
In high-pressure situations, success often hinges on collaborative decision-making, experience, and efficient execution. These three elements, when combined, create a powerful formula for achieving goals, whether on the scene of an emergency or within your team and organization. The Power of Collaboration Collaboration is more than just working together; it’s about aligning efforts toward a…
Read MoreTransforming a Toxic Work Environment into a Safe Zone
The past three blogs asked if you would knowingly walk into a dangerous, hazardous zone without protection? Unless you were unaware of the hazards or plain crazy, you would not enter that chemical charged area unprotected. Yet, many employees step into toxic work environments every day, suffering in silence while their stress levels rise and…
Read MoreThe Hidden Dangers of a Toxic Workplace
In the last two blog posts, we discussed the dangers of entering a toxic atmosphere unprotected, comparing a choking cloud of chlorine gas to a harmful work environment. While industrial sites are required by law to post warning signs for hazardous materials, toxic workplaces do not come with danger signs, maybe they should. Imagine if…
Read MoreLeadership’s Role in Preventing a Toxic Work Environment
Last week’s blog asked if you would enter a toxic, chemical environment unprotected. Yet, employees by the scores enter a toxic work environment every day of the year. Would you knowingly expose yourself to a dangerous chemical leak without protection? Of course not. Yet, many leaders allow their employees to suffer in toxic work environments…
Read MoreWould You Enter a Toxic Atmosphere Unprotected?
Imagine walking into a thick, choking cloud of chlorine gas without any protection. That would be absurd and insanely crazy unless you had a death wish. Chlorine is immediately dangerous to life and health at just 10 parts per million, and when it contacts moisture, it forms hydrochloric acid, which is damaging to the human…
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