If there was anything that I learned regarding the Gulf oil spill, it was the overwhelming importance of a backup plan. Watching the oil gush for more than 80 days, I kept saying to myself, “Was there really no plan?”
As professionals, all of us have a backup for every meeting, conference and event we plan no matter how big or small. While most of us would agree that plan B planning sometimes seems meaningless and time consuming, if there has been anything of late that helps reinforce to me the importance of a backup plan it was the shocking and horrific situation regarding the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig.
The two major observations I made from the Gulf oil spill were:
A Lack of Leadership: With the Gulf oil spill I saw no real leader emerge to handle the crisis. We saw numerous spokespeople, but none of them seemed to be the real leader of the situation. With any backup plan, there needs to be a designated leader who gives the public confidence that the crisis is being handled. Crisis management gives you an opportunity to shine; if you are the leader, people will become dependent on your leadership and this should, if handled correctly, elevate your position in your organization as well as the general public.
A Lack of Prompt Response: When a crisis of any type occurs (whether it be a rained-out event, a flood-destroyed convention center, oil spill or other catastrophe), a prompt response is critical. You need to face the problem head-on. In a crisis, people want an organization’s leader to step up and deliver the crisis management message promptly, while exhibiting full awareness of the situation and how it affects those involved.
One of the most important things you can do during a crisis is consult with others who are in the same role/position as you. A crisis is no time for egos. One of the most valuable aspects of being a member of an organization such as MPI is that you have endless resources to people you can consult on plan B situations.
Many people feel that if they urge for a backup plan, they will be looked upon negatively by their peers, seen as the person who focuses on the worst or who always mentions “what if.” In most professional environments, these people are actually the people who are looked upon in a positive light by bringing this up. They are simply protecting the business and ensuring that if something happens, future growth will not be affected.
Developing a plan B is never an easy process; it takes many people many hours to develop. Not only must you fully analyze the situation(s) for which the plan is being developed, the plan must be reviewed over and over again, all the while being updated. Develop a backup plan for all your meetings, conferences and events, because while your company may not be in a crisis now, it may simply be a matter of time before you are. Relying solely on plan A will make you a textbook study case for how not to handle a crisis. One+
STEVE KEMBLE has been the magic behind countless international events for more than 20 years, from celebrating NFL players’ accomplishments to organizing parties for two presidents. Follow him at www.adoseofsass.com or on Twitter @stevekemblechat.
