Public Safety Insights Newsletter: July 9, 2014

Political Acumen Self-assessment
Public Safety Insight:	Public safety leaders can enhance their political acumen by identifying areas in which they must improve their skills.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has identified the lack of political acumen as one of the five “wicked problems” that must be addressed if fire and rescue leaders are to be successful in achieving their missions. It describes political acumen as possessing the skills and capacity to work effectively in a political environment. What exactly does this mean? How do you know how proficient you are in the political arena? Here is a quick self-assessment that may give you some insight into this concept – and into your own level of expertise.

Rate yourself on each item using this scale: 5=strongly agree, 4=agree, 3=neither agree nor disagree, 2=disagree, 1=strongly disagree.

1. I treat politics as a process, not an event or task.
2. I am highly confident in my ability to communicate effectively with politicians.
3. I am very familiar with the local political process – i.e., how things get done locally.
4. All my employees are very familiar with the local political process.
5. I am very familiar with the larger political process – i.e., how things get done on the state, province, or other level.
6. My staff are very familiar with the larger political process.
7. I know what motivates my politicians and administrative decision-makers to act.
8. I meet frequently with my politicians and administrative decision-makers.
9. My staff keep in close touch with the staff of our politicians and administrative decision-makers.
10. I regularly attend business and civic association meetings.
11. My employees regularly attend community meetings and events.
12. Labor and management work collaboratively in the political arena.
13. We have a process for developing and cultivating relationships in all political arenas.
14. I regularly act as a resource for my politicians and administrative decision-makers – e.g., making introductions, educating others about their initiatives as well as mine.
15. I regularly make my boss(es) – e.g., commissioners, city manager – look good.

Any item in which you rated yourself below 4 represents an opportunity for improvement.

What can do you if you would like to enhance your current level of expertise? Join me at 11 a.m. Eastern / 8 a.m. Pacific on July 24th for an IAFC webinar titled “Wicked Problems – Political Acumen.” I will be having a conversation with Fire Chief Kingman Schuldt of the East Naples/Golden Gate Fire Districts about his experience in navigating the political waters to effect the successful merger of two independent fire districts. You may register for this event on the IAFC web site. Can’t make the call? The recording and slides will be archived on the IAFC web site after the fact. You need not be an IAFC member to access these materials.

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To find other articles and resources that may be of value to you, I invite you to visit my web site at www.PublicSafetyInsights.net.

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©2014 Pat Lynch | Public Safety Insights