How do you create a crisis-proof team?

1 Assess your risks

The first step to creating a crisis-proof team is to identify and evaluate the potential risks that your organization faces, both internally and externally. You can use tools such as SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, or risk matrix to assess the likelihood and impact of various scenarios, such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, market shifts, or regulatory changes. By understanding your risks, you can prioritize your actions, allocate your resources, and communicate your expectations to your team.

2 Plan your response

The second step to creating a crisis-proof team is to develop a comprehensive and flexible response plan that covers the objectives, roles, responsibilities, and procedures of your team during a crisis. You should define the triggers, escalation levels, and decision-making processes that will guide your team's actions and reactions. You should also establish the communication channels, platforms, and protocols that will enable your team to share information, coordinate activities, and provide feedback. Your response plan should be regularly reviewed, updated, and tested to ensure its effectiveness and relevance.

3 Train your team

The third step to creating a crisis-proof team is to train your team on the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that are essential for operational planning and crisis management. You should provide your team with opportunities to learn from best practices, case studies, and simulations that simulate realistic and challenging situations. You should also foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and resilience that encourages your team to work together, adapt to changing circumstances, and overcome difficulties. Your team should be confident, competent, and committed to achieving your organizational goals.

4 Monitor your environment

The fourth step to creating a crisis-proof team is to monitor your environment for any signs of change, opportunity, or threat that may affect your organization. You should use tools such as environmental scanning, trend analysis, or scenario planning to track and analyze the factors and forces that shape your industry, market, and society. You should also solicit feedback from your stakeholders, customers, and partners to understand their needs, expectations, and perceptions. By monitoring your environment, you can anticipate and respond to emerging issues, trends, and opportunities.

5 Evaluate your performance

The fifth step to creating a crisis-proof team is to evaluate your performance during and after a crisis. You should use tools such as key performance indicators, benchmarks, or surveys to measure and compare your team's outputs, outcomes, and impacts. You should also conduct debriefs, reviews, or audits to identify and document your team's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. By evaluating your performance, you can learn from your successes and failures, celebrate your achievements, and improve your processes and practices.

6 Prepare for the future

The sixth and final step to creating a crisis-proof team is to prepare for the future. You should use tools such as strategic planning, visioning, or forecasting to define and communicate your long-term goals, strategies, and actions. You should also invest in your team's development, well-being, and motivation by providing them with opportunities for growth, recognition, and reward. By preparing for the future, you can ensure that your team is ready and able to face any challenge or opportunity that comes your way.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?