Business Planning 101

The recent wildfires caused devastation and sadness across our region and around the nation. For the people who loss everything, this is a time of mourning and great sorrow. My heart goes out to every person who will have to rebuild as a result of this tragedy.

Yet, in the mist of all the sadness and disbelief, one thing is clear. San Diego learned the importance of advanced preparation after the Cedar wildfires of 2003. I applaud City leaders for taking the steps necessary to implement life saving procedures to communicate with residents and maintain order in what could have been a very chaotic situation. 

I’m highlighting this achievement because I understand the significance of having policies and procedures in place before you need them. Unfortunately business leaders often neglect the development of written procedures until it is too late. After the law suit is filed or the story runs in the press, or a horrible accident occurs, is not the time to develop the company’s course of action. Instead, that is the time when established procedures should go into effect to protect the safety and well being of all parties, including the organization.

So why do so many business leaders neglect the development of written procedures? The answer is easy; they don’t recognize the importance of established procedures until they need them. San Diego did not recognize the importance of the reverse 911 call system until the Cedar wildfires took so many residents by surprise. Along this same vein, business leaders don’t recognize the need for a corporate response to potential disaster until one erupts. Sadly, it only takes one disaster to send stock prices plummeting or one slow response to a public mishap to create a media nightmare.

Handled incorrectly, either of these could cripple your organization.

 What do you think, we want to hear from you?