The L.A.M.B Method

There appears to be something wrong with the fire service supervisors and leaders today. In fact I might say that it their inability to make the correct decisions even though they technically know the right answers.

This week I think we should look at problem solving broken down to it's simplest form.

For some reason I have chosen the acronym LAMB for my mnemonic for remembering how you should do this.

Here is the definition and then we will look at how it works:

L - Label the actual problem

A - Action items and options

M - Make the best decision

B - Bounce-back and review

Let us look at these items one at a time and how they should be used and what some pitfalls might be.

L - Label the problem

Many times this is even where we make our first error. Many supervisors, officers and leaders do not take enough time to find out what the problem really is and they end up treating symptoms of a problem. Even when the employees are asked there is an inherent fear of saying the real issues. They bring up some problems that appear to be the issue without ever discussing the real underlying root cause. Officers must move slowly deliberately and methodically to get by the smoke screens thrown up by their subordinates and get to the real issue. Take your time, be a good detective and then maybe you can make one move instead of an entire series of small unproductive confusing issues.

A - Action items and options

Physically make a list of any possibilities you have for dealing with this issue. Write them down and be open as you possibly can in your thought processes. Think of outrageous things, think like the employee or subordinate and write down what you believe they think are the options, always include the option of "taking no action" as a choice. The option of taking no action should be considered but it should be only chosen with several cautions. It is good to allow other things to happen and to buy time. That being said I do not know of a lot of problems that have gotten better by "taking no action". They usually grow and multiply but it should be considered. It is also useful when there is no actual problem, but merely a smoke screen raised by the employee. If that is the case take no action. The problem is when we are what we perceive to be as receptive and proactive, the subordinates can use this to constantly raise issues and take away from the real life problems.

M- Make best decisions

After careful and thoughtful review of the options that you have written down make a decision. Try to review the consequences and think of as many potential outcomes as you can, but take the risk, step out in front and make the decision. Yes, let's clear some decisions you make will be wrong. You will be hurt by decisions you make. Do not let that stop you from making other tough decisions. We often have many meetings and we discuss many problems but we are hesitant to make the tough call that sometimes needs to be made. You have a job to do, nobody promised that it would always be easy, but if you think of the overall goals and missions of the agency, rather than your personal belief or feelings, you will make the right choices. Do not make "retaliatory" decisions. Make your decision with the sincerest and purest form that you intent is to "Do no harm". Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, keep making them.

B - Bounce back information and review

After some time period which always is a little different for each situation, review the benefits or detriments of your decision. Did what you predict to happen actually happen? Did you resolve the issue? Did you change the issue and now have a slightly different issue? Did it get worse? This step is vital because it allows the supervisor to keep their finger on the pulse of the troops. This allows you and helps you take the temperature of the group and actually it is extremely beneficial to you because it allows you to make better decisions. Take a critical look at yourself and then it is simple, just start back at the beginning from L and work your way back through the process.

Try the simple four letter system for problem solving yourself, it really can work!

Please also remember these two very critical points....

This is one time that LAMB is related to problem solving, rather than problem causing!

Nobody can now ever say they did not learn anything from LAMB!

<grin>

Take care, Stay Safe and tell us what you think!