leading your organization in the aftermath of a crisis bob vandepol someone valueoptoins
TRANSCRIPT
Leading Your Organization in
the Aftermath of a Crisis
Bob VandePol
SOMEONE VALUEOPTOINS
Agenda
Welcome Context – what happened at VT, how EAP helps in such
situations, what we are doing at VT now Specific concerns your population may have with this
incident The implications of this event on your organization and
your employees Leadership during a crisis (ACT, Hierarchy of Needs,
Transitions (fear to safety, etc.), Things to Remember, Ways to Ease Stress)
Discussion/Recommendations Resources
Virginia Tech and Role of the EAP
Assess organizational needs and develop a “recovery plan”
Provide an immediate and ongoing response to the situation (at both macro and micro levels)
Promote recovery of participants by encouraging use of existing resources
Demonstrate organization’s concern for individuals affected by the event
Encourage leaders to take care of themselves so that they can be a role model for strength and optimism
Triggering Event
Circles of impact Implications for your organization
• Individuals – those with history of trauma, those affected directly by loss, general fear/anxiety for children’s safety
• Management – re-evaluation of crisis preparedness plan; concern about identifying troubled employees; distracted, fearful workforce
Deal With It
Your organization will go through a post-incident process with you or without you. Lead it!
“The pure rage that stems from unredressed injury can be more fearsome than that produced by the original wrong.”
--Gerry Spence
Founder, Trial Lawyers College
Crisis Reactions = Leadership at Risk
Regression to more basic, primitive impulses and defenses
+Immediate attempts to make sense out of the incident in an effort to gain a feeling of control
over it +
Isolation from others in distrust=
Hostility and blame. Tragedy begets tragedy.
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Leadership Positioning - ACT
Acknowledge and name the incident
Communicate competence and compassion
Transition to a future focus
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Actualization
Esteem
Love/Belonging
Safety
Physiological
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Leadership Vision and Action
Fear Safety Isolation Connectivity Chaos Structure Helplessness Efficacy Victim Survivor
The Human Factor in Business Recovery
There is no business recovery without people who: are healthy enough to return to work and be
productive are assured enough of their safety to not feel afraid
to return to work have had their trust in the leadership established so
that they desire to return to work have had their loyalty rewarded so they remain
employees over the short haul and the long haul
Source: Marsh Crisis Academy 2003
Recommendations/Discussion
Send ongoing communications to teams working on the organization’s response, managers and employees about available services.
Management should be visible. Continue to evaluate population’s needs, and contact
VO to arrange if/when needed. SOMETHING HERE ABOUT ADDRESSING
SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE?. Crisis preparedness plans Please keep in touch with your ValueOptions account
representative.
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Things to Remember
No one who sees a violent crime is untouched by it
It is normal to feel anxious about you and your loved one’s safety
Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions to an abnormal event
Acknowledging our feelings helps us recover
Focusing on our strengths and abilities helps us move on
Self-Care for Leaders
Remember to take care of yourself so that you can support others and model strength and optimism.
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Things to Remember (con’t)
Accepting help from community programs and resources is healthy
We each have different needs and different ways of coping
It is common to want to strike back at people who have caused pain. However, nothing good is accomplished by hateful language or actions
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Ways to Ease Stress
Talk with someone about your feelings even though it may be difficult
Take steps to promote your own physical and emotional healing by staying active in your daily life patterns or by adjusting them. Include healthy diet, rest, exercise, and relaxation
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Ways to Ease Stress (con’t)
Spend time with family and friends Participate in memorials, rituals, and
use of symbols as a way to express feelings.
Use existing support groups of family, friends, and church.
– US Dept of Mental Health
Resources
Ensure availability/awareness of resources by all employees and family members
Your employee assistance program (EAP) AchieveSolutions Your primary care physician Community-based services:
• American Red Cross• National Organization for Victims Assistance• Your religious organization• Self-help support group