Don’t work in silos, ensure clear and concise communication, focus on getting an operational rhythm, designate an IC or make sure people know the objectives (don’t forget the basics of ICS300), ensure folks are working on their products asked for and that they get done/submitted on time (to include accurate, well written, and done the first time).

Here’s a more concise list of strategies: 1. Open Communication: Encourage sharing of concerns. 2. Training: Provide ongoing skill development. 3. Mental Health Support: Offer counseling resources. 4. Team Building: Strengthen team relationships. 5. Recognition: Acknowledge staff contributions. 6. Workload Management: Prevent burnout through adequate staffing. 7. Empowerment: Allow autonomy in decision-making. 8. Clear Goals: Set achievable objectives. 9. Healthy Environment: Foster respect and support. 10. Stress Management: Teach coping techniques. 11. Flexibility: Offer adaptable schedules. 12. Supportive Leadership: Ensure approachable leadership. These strategies help keep emergency staff engaged and effective under stress.

Get to know your people. You should be able to tell when they need breaks. Allow your team members to take appropriate breaks. Make sure that you have adequate personnel available in order to rotate folks out as needed and assure that no one on your team is getting overwhelmed or over worked. If needed, provide peer support and CISM Teams.

I believe all starts and ends with your leadership style in face of adversity. Our profession is uniquely challenging; there are limited tangible criteria for success, regardless of end results, you ither failed to prevent OR spent to much time\money for nothing. In other words, you are in a lose-lose best case scenario. Another "curse" of the profession is that for various reasons, everyone thinks they know your job better than you. Trying to establish your worth during a crisis is a proven receipt for failure. From my experience, if your moral and professional campus is based on an unwavering loyalty to your profession and the people you are responsible for, you will establish your professional worth and limit conflict during crisis.

To keep your team engaged during high-stress emergencies, maintain clear and frequent communication, provide emotional support, and empower team members to make decisions within their scope of responsibility. Additionally, recognize and reward efforts, promote work-life balance, and lead by example, demonstrating resilience and optimism while encouraging collaboration and open dialogue to foster a supportive environment