I know it”™s like closing the barn door after the horses got loose, but this isn”™t going to be our last disaster. What can I do to prepare my business for the next disruption?
Thoughts of the day: Build a disaster plan involving everyone in the business. Make a list of things that have to be taken care of. Use recent experiences as training events.
Whether man-made or caused by natural forces, disruptions to our businesses will keep on coming. Some are unique to individual businesses such as illness or death. Other times we find ourselves digging out from under storm damage. And then there are the disasters caused by people we work with ”“ intentional and unintentional.
Different parts of the business have different needs and challenges. Salespeople can”™t get to sales meetings, can”™t close business and lose focus as they get caught up in the drama unfolding inside and outside the company. Marketing loses momentum and impact as prospects focus on immediate needs.
Finance has to deal with cash-flow issues. Ongoing expenses drain funds while client payments dry up and new sales slow to a trickle. Operations needs adequate workspace, equipment, electricity and computer connectivity to function.
Repairing damage comes before ramping up production. Any slowdown in operations further hurts finances as future invoices are tied to work delivered.
Employees who can”™t get to work have to be replaced or done without. Critical functions, handled by one person, become a liability as new people step in to figure out what to do without anyone to train them. Employees who are hard hit need support to help them cope personally.
Take a look at disaster and recovery plans impacting businesses in your area and your industry. If you belong to an industry association, ask it to form a task force to work on a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan. Here”™s a list to get you started.
- Build up reserves to between three and six months of operating cash.
- Write out an emergency financing plan; line up financing before disaster strikes; know where to go and what to present to get access to additional backup funds in case of a major business disruption.
- Build a sales force capable of selling beyond your local geography ”“ rarely do disasters impact the whole country at once; have a rapid sales ramp-up plan, and define assignments from outside sales to help implement the plan.
- Plan how to shift marketing messages to disaster solutions locally; be ready to target areas of the country not under duress.
- Practice emergency marketing activities including speaking to the press, customers and prospects about the status of your company.
- Put someone in charge of communicating who can gather and disseminate information accurately and appropriately; have a Twitter account and build connections before disaster strikes.
- Gather employees”™ emergency contact information; assign someone to make contact; decide how you plan to help people with basic needs of food, shelter, water, heat, clothing and showers.
- Plan for physical interruptions: natural gas for internal power, generators for electricity and heat, emergency gas supply for automobiles, alternate workspace.
- Join forces with other companies to pool resources.
- Secure paperwork and ensure IT systems and records are accessible even if your building isn”™t; check your IT provider”™s uptime record during disasters.
- Check insurance policies ”“ business interruption, physical damage, loss of life and liability.
- Cross train every position and prepare procedure manuals, assign disaster roles and backups.
- Assign someone to tap into emergency resources ”“ start with SBA.gov, ASBDC-US.org, FEMA.gov and local first responders.
View disaster preparedness as a process, not an event. As the company goes through a disruption pull out the plan and use it. Do a postmortem on what worked and what needs to be added for next time.
Looking for a good book? Try “Prepare for the Worst, Plan for the Best: Disaster Preparedness for Business” by Donna R. Childs.
Andi Gray is president of Strategy Leaders Inc., strategyleaders.com, a business-consulting firm that specializes in helping entrepreneurial firms grow. She can be reached by phone at (877) 238-3535. Do you have a question for Andi? Please send it to her via email at AskAndi@StrategyLeaders.com or by mail to Andi Gray, Strategy Leaders Inc., 5 Crossways, Chappaqua, NY 10514. Visit AskAndi.com for an entire library of Ask Andi articles.
