complimentary thinklets – third quarter 2024
outside in
Complacency can be as dangerous as inaction.
Even though I provide counsel to clients, I almost always end up learning as much as I impart. For me, that is the primary reward.
When I first got involved in crisis response, I spent a lot of time learning from peers within my own industry. They were extremely generous with their time and advice. For good reason, crisis response is not something that is deemed competitive or anti-trust territory.
After visiting several colleagues, I felt I had a good basis from which to start enhancing our existing strategy.
But then I had an epiphany for which I am forever grateful. Why was I only learning from people who did the same thing I did for the same kind of company?
I broadened my scope of people to visit to include other types of transportation companies – like railroads and ships – and even to organizations that used transportation, but which didn’t provide those services.
Guess what? I learned even more.
Learning is a huge part of what keeps work fresh and exciting. If we ever get comfortable with our jobs, we’re not much use to our organization or to ourselves for that matter.
I joined a few professional organizations so that I could meet people and exchange ideas. (I took some heat from one superior who told me in a performance review to be careful about becoming a “joiner”. I wonder if he felt the same way about people who became “readers”?)
Expanding your network is a wonderful way to learn what others are doing. To benefit from their experience. To ask for an invite to see their crisis strategy, facilities, and exercises.
Speaking of exercises, I loved having people from other organizations come observe ours. Sitting with them for an honest post-event critique was so enlightening. It’s always amazing what you see through a different pair of eyes.
I encourage you to spend the next few months thinking about what you can do externally to help your organization internally. You can then use those thoughts and the subsequent research as you put together your action plan for next year.
In the meantime, though, nothing prevents you from taking to lunch a fellow crisis manager from a company similar to your own or from a completely different type of organization.
It Is never too late – or too soon – to infuse yourself and your organization with new ideas.
The Windshear Group helps organizations find ways to enhance their crisis strategies without spending huge sums of money or requiring a significant amount of time. If we can help you, please contact us.
Be different. Be ready.