Alertness – Being aware of what is taking place around me so I can respond appropriately. Each of our areas of responsibility requires that we be alert to warnings, whether it is equipment, processes, or situations. Some rely on systems to help stay alert, and others rely on their senses to remain alert. In Information Technology, we have systems that are set to alert us when something is not working as it should. We get alerts if something is slow on the network, if there are attempted intrusions from outside sources, if drive space is low, if additional resources are needed, to name just a few. Much of what the Information Technology department does is monitor and respond to alerts. The goal is to notice warning signs and react before it impacts the user. However, there are times that these sophisticated monitoring systems do not work. Recently, a power surge took out a server room battery backup. The email notifications weren’t sent to the Information Technology team because the power outage took down the email server. An alert Director, however, noticed that there seemed to be a problem, and the outage was discovered, and recovery began.

Listening to others can increase our alertness. The City has several Alert Neighborhoods. These areas are trained by the Police Department and Neighborhood Coordinator on how to be alert to problems and potential crime, and when to report these problems. The Report A Concern form, and Facebook Messages are resources available to alert the City to situations, allowing what may be a small problem to be corrected before it becomes a bigger problem. These sources alert the City about a variety of issues ranging from code enforcement violations, possible crimes, potholes, street signs that have fallen, drainage issues, unexplained water in the street, and beaver dams in our parks. Each time the City is alerted of an issue, it is an opportunity to not only address the problem, but also to show responsiveness and demonstrate a care and concern for residents.

What happens if the systems you have in place fail to notify you? If that happens you must rely on your instincts and your senses. We can often detect that there is a problem because something just doesn’t sound right. A fan inside a computer may be running high, indicating an issue. Perhaps something is beeping for no apparent reason. When City Hall moved to its new location, the fire alarm kept beeping, and some people ignored it because they didn’t know what it was. Others brought it to our attention, so we were able to work with building maintenance to resolve. Ignoring a situation does not make it go away. In Information Technology, we talk about using our senses. If it doesn’t smell right, look right, or sound right, we need to explore it further and alert someone if we are not able to resolve it ourselves.

Distractions kill alertness, and multitasking is a myth. It may not be entirely, but it is not possible to give your full attention to a task when you are distracted or working on multiple tasks. We all carry around a big distraction in our pockets or our purses. Smart phones have become a mainstay for everyone. It is your connection to your co-workers and your family, 24/7. It is often your source of information and entertainment. There is a time and place for these distractions, but it is important to discern when the distraction is appropriate and when it isn’t. How many times have you been caught off guard with a question because of a distraction, whether it was at work or with your family?

My father-in-law recently bought a car that has several features to help keep him safe. As an older driver, we have been concerned about whether or not he is alert enough to stay safe. The car has a lane departure warning that lets him know if he is drifting across the line. The car will actually prevent him from changing lanes if an obstacle is detected in the lane next to him. If there is something in front of him the car will slow down or stop, suddenly if necessary. The car will not allow him to drive in reverse if it detects an object in the way. There are cameras everywhere that allow him to see around the entire vehicle. Even though these safety features provide us with some peace of mind, I do worry how he will respond if any of these features fails to work. Will he become so reliant on them that he will not use his senses?

It is important that we stay alert and focused in order to successfully do our jobs and protect our families. It is important that we alert others when we notice something does not seem to be normal. It is important that we not allow distractions to take away our focus. It is important to use the systems and notifications that give us early warning to a potential problem. And when those systems fail, it is important that we continue to use our instincts and senses.