I’m in the US Virgin Islands this week conducting a human resources training course. During a break, we talked about a topic near and dear to those of us in this region…hurricanes. We all have to swap our ‘hurricane stories’ about how long we’ve lived without power and how many cans of tuna we’ve stockpiled.
My heart goes out to the Americans who have recently faced devastating tornados, the people in Myanmar who are still recovering from a cyclone and the people of China following their massive earthquake. These recent disasters came without any warning. With most hurricanes, we at least have time to prepare. We can run to the store, stock up on supplies and batten down the hatches.
Now take this concept to your business. Challenges can happen at any time – it could be the key employee who leaves unexpectedly or a new law that impacts your operation. As business leaders, what are we doing to make sure that we have the pieces in place for these surprises when they occur? A lot of companies are great at protecting the FFE (furniture, fixtures, equipment). But we also have to create programs that make our employees want to still come into work every day once adversity strikes.
And what are you doing for yourself? The knowledge economy is changing rapidly…for us to grow as leaders, we need to keep our skills fresh. When was the last time you took inventory of the things you need to know to take your business to the next level?
Just like stocking up on tuna will help during a hurricane, taking stock in yourself will prepare you for future workplace challenges and allow you to thrive in the face of disaster.
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