When managing a major incident, what is crucial for the Incident Commander to maintain?

In the context of managing a major incident, it is vital for the Incident Commander to exhibit continuous and decisive leadership. This ensures that the response to the incident remains focused and effective, enabling quick decision-making and the ability to adapt to evolving circumstances. Strong leadership helps coordinate the efforts of various team members, facilitating communication and ensuring that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities during the incident.

Decisive leadership is particularly important in high-pressure situations where time is of the essence. The ability to prioritize actions and make informed decisions allows the team to address the incident effectively, reducing downtime and mitigating impacts.

Maintaining personal relationships, being non-involved in daily operations, or having a comprehensive technical understanding, while potentially beneficial, do not take precedence over the need for strong and ongoing leadership during a major incident. The focus should be on guiding the team and making timely decisions to navigate the challenges presented by the incident.