Lost and found. Two different things at two ends of the spectrum. Today I want to think about these terms in a way they affect you and your department.

By definition if you have lost something, you have given something away. If you have found something you have gained something. In most cases we are talking about objects, but in my discussion we are talking about less tangible things.

What gets lost in your organization? Sometimes departments lose focus. Sometimes members lose their own focus and no longer care about their job. Sometimes members do not train often enough and they lose perishable skills. Sometimes frustrations rise in the kitchen, or in officer meetings and people lose their temper or lose their patience. You get the point.

What can be found in your organization? Well nothing will be found if nobody looks! Nothing can be found if nobody is self aware enough to know that they themselves may have lost something.

I have been in organizations where caring could be found everywhere you looked. New information was always found and it was readily available and shared often. Great public service and professionalism could always be found. Friendship and camaraderie should also be easily found in your organizations. You see the things that can be found should not even need a “Lost and Found” sign over them.

Each and every day that you walk into your firehouse or firehall many things are lost and many things can be found.

I guess it really matters what you are looking for.