Lizard Brains at Work
Why does it seem like we go brain dead in a crisis? We plan and prepare assiduously, locking procedures into our minds and increasing our muscle memory with regular exercises. Then when ‘the big one’ hits, we seem to forget everything we’ve learned. Even if we don’t, it seems like everyone else has. Everything seems […]
The Compassion Challenge
Why don’t people care any more? It’s a decades-old puzzle: Human beings are noted for incredible acts of heroism, kindness and generosity, yet we’re also known for selfish, self-centered actions and the capability to seemingly ignore evil as it occurs around us. Sociologists debate the answer, ethicists explain the issue and we just accept it […]
The Danger of Being Unprepared
What happens if you’re not prepared when a crisis strikes? What will happen if you simply haven’t got around to crafting a crisis communication strategy, plan or process? What could go wrong? First of all, remember that 99% of the time, no preparation is enough preparation. This is not an excuse to defer the important work […]
Policy Without Perspective Can Ruin Your Reputation
Here’s an example of how policy without perspective can ruin your reputation, courtesy of the Vermilion Parish School Board, in Louisiana. Take your pick of the following headlines: Watch and read KATC’s full coverage of the Vermilion teacher incident “He did exactly what he was hired to do. He followed the procedures completely.” Teacher handcuff […]
Don’t Fight the Last War
Don’t look in the wrong direction! Responders easily look in the wrong direction for planning. They tend to focus on past responses and ask past-tense questions: What happened last time? What could we have done better? As a result, Command strategy is built on best practices, policy and process – but all from past experiences. […]