Crisis Decision Making- Top 5 Tips

In previous posts we examined information management and operating a fast OODA Loop. This post looks at some tools to help crisis decision-making. Here are five things to consider.

1. Key Questions: Have a system to guide your decision making that analyses the situation and allows you to use your experience and intuition. Think about the questions you need to ask and write them down in advance. They should help you (1) understand what is going on and the implications of that, (2) appreciate what needs to be done and why, (3) be clear on where your priority lies and (4) identify, resource and co-ordinate tasks. Practice this technique to make its use second nature - rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!

2. Get Your Intention Across: Remember those completing a task may encounter unforeseen problems. Be clear about what needs done (the task) and why (the intent - unifying the purpose of many tasks).  Understanding the intent affords your teams the freedom to adapt the task if they encounter a difficulty and still achieve the intent.

3. Achieving a Focus: There will be lots going on so, to avoid dissipation of effort, make it clear where the focus lies. Define what is critical for success and make sure everyone knows and is working towards that. It can help to define the end state - what will success look like?

4. Using Resources: Resources are scarce so use them wisely. Allocate resources to those tasks that support your focus. Others will have to wait. Remember that not everything will go to plan, so have spare capacity.

5. Using Time Effectively: The one resource that can’t be regenerated is time. If you have to take decisions then think about those who will have to implement them. Leave them the time to do that. Work out how much time is available between starting the decision process and the resulting actions needing to take place. Then use 1/3rd of that time to take the decision and leave 2/3rds for everyone else to actual carry out the tasks the decisions generate.

Our next item will be focusing on a handy tool when it comes to decision making that allows you to combine thoroughness whilst not sacrificing experience, gut feel and intuition so keep watching and following. To avoid missing out why not simply opt to follow our blog by submitting your email address. You will get each post emailed to you as they are posted.

Lessons from Christine, Usain and Mo...

...IT TAKES PREPARATION.

Did you see Christine Ohuruogu win her gold medal this week?  Incredible.  It was a display of determination and a world beating performance pulled from the top drawer when it mattered most.  Usain Bolt produced his magic again and Mo Farah just completed a double double - two golds at both the Olympics and the World Championships.  Of course these athletes are only  three amongst hundreds who have been preparing for years to achieve success under the most intense pressure.    

We could all learn a thing or two from all of these athletes, especially in relation to crisis management.  In our conversations with many shapes and sizes of businesses we sometimes come across those companies and individuals who think that when the crisis strikes (and it will one day) the crisis teams will simply leap from behind their desk and, with some mystical powers, conquer the crisis.  Seriously...these people do exist; I've had the conversations.

"Let me tell you sonny, we'll be fine.  I've been in business for over twenty years and not much gets past me.  We don't need a plan and we certainly don't have the time to practice."  Or the age old classic "Of course we have a plan... I think we exercised it a few years ago."

I wonder how many gold medals Usain, Christine and Mo would be wearing if they adopted the same approach?  How on earth can it be possible to avoid meaningful practice and preparation and expect to win when the stakes are highest?  Whether its the Olympics, the World Championships or the equally high pressure atmosphere of a crisis, the simple truth is that failing to prepare only leads to defeat.

So the lesson is simple.  If you want your business to avoid meltdown  in the midst of a crisis, its essential to prepare as thoroughly as you can.  And that means having a plan that fits your business; not a copy of someone else's or a template from the internet.  It means having people who understand their roles and responsibilities in a crisis and above all it means training your people and putting the whole lot through their paces regularly.  Make your training as realistic as you can and judge the progression - Rome wasn't built in a day.  By training and practising your teams will know what to do in a crisis - they'll perform on the big occasion.  More importantly they'll develop the confidence and flexibility to be able to cope with the unexpected.  And, by it's very definition your crisis will involve the unexpected, so you need to be ready or you don't stand a chance.

So learn from the World Champs.  Preparation leads to success under the most intense pressure, amongst hungry competitors who want to defeat you.  And remember, a plan that hasn't been exercised is no plan at all - its the capability that counts.