SAR Fundamentals/Team leader

00:00

2 min

Introduce topic title

Introduce Instructor

Present Objectives

00:02

7 min

present slides 408-413 in sequence & discuss

Group goals

• keep everyone safe
• accomplish the assigned tasks

Team attributes

• Technical Skills - technique, knowledge
• Group Management - delegate, coordinate
• People Skills - decide, morale

Need through-out the group.

• Not just Team Leader
• being a good team member creates good leadership
• being a good team member is the first step towards becoming a leader
• Leadership skills are learned through experience and training
• you may end up in a leadership position early
  • e.g. trained person put with untrained spontaneous volunteers

Technical Skills

• have the basics -- this course
• advanced skills
  • as required by situation
  • can be anyone in team
  • better if in the TL

Group Management

• First and foremost responsibility of a team leader: safety of the team
• goal: coordinated action
• Team leader assigns functions to team members (communications, navigation, first aid) and ensures proper equipment for each is available
• Accepts team assignment from SAR Management and communicates assignment to team
• Ensures the search assignment is completed
• Documents team’s activities
• Briefs and debriefs all team members

A Good Team Leader ensures that:

• Team members have adequate clothing, equipment, and physical conditioning for the assignment
• Team members understand the search assignment and field commands
• Team members are focused and observant
• Capabilities and pace of all team members are considered
• Team members are checked at frequent intervals to ensure safety and physical condition
• Search team is employed to best effect. Search formation is adopted to fit the circumstance
• The area assigned is searched and there are no gaps or omissions (unchecked ground, barriers, obstacles, etc)
• take team assignment and pass to members vs. group briefing
• assign team functions [2]

People Skills

• Leads by example
• Is always mindful of physical and mental health of team
• Knows the strengths and weaknesses of the team
• Encourages team problem solving
• listen to your members
• Clear Leadership
  • most common problem I see
  • being visibly in-charge
  • people want to see
  • members are willing to defer to clear leader
  • won't be challenged in SAR context
  • except when essential: safety
  • get and keep attention
  • project voice

00:11

2 min

make decision

Don't sweat the decisions

• the big stuff is obvious
• the difficult decisions are always between near equal choices
• any choice is good enough
• important point is that a choice is made
• defer to your team unless you have a strong opinion

Be clear on what the decision is

• spectrum of clarity: "I think we should", "let's", "I've decided"

Bearing of Leadership

• project your voice

00:13

2 min

Review Objectives

Questions