How’s the transition going and what have you learned?
Thanks to all of you in my network for your time and help over recent weeks. I’d like to share Volume 3 of my learnings from you with you.
Risk, Markets and Trends
Risk Management: I’ve re-invested in my learning over the last two weeks. That time, together with a recent conversation with a retained search executive, got me thinking more broadly about risk management in organizations and specifically these 2 questions:
- How are organizations doing right now on risk communication to their employees, shareholders and stakeholders and in the case of government, to the citizenry?
- How will we apply learnings from our risk management practices and reactions to current events to be resilient in the future?
Risk management is not something most people suddenly wake up in the morning and decide to do, unless a crisis has struck. In my opinion, the best organizations keep current on two major elements of risk management: first, regularly assessing their risks and second, performing mock or ‘tabletop’ exercises that test senior leaders and response teams.
Risk assessment can take many forms, but I am personally a fan of the risk ‘heat map’ concept. In this method, the organization plots out key threats based on likelihood of occurrence and potential impact. Each of these threats is then assessed for the current strength of controls in place at present. The ‘heat map’ can be scaled up or down to suit local or broad scopes and should become a regular part of the organizational operating and review rhythm, at a minimum getting an annual look … more frequently if conditions change.
Testing your preparedness can be as simple as regularly conducting some scenario drills using one or more of the identified risks from the heat map exercise and involving all relevant members of the organization. This is not the time for a hands off approach by leadership. These drills will help identify out-of-date plans, incomplete contact rosters, and missing resources. Equally important, this helps all on the team to gain comfort and trust working together while reacting to the given scenario.
Risk Communication: I watched a 2018 CDC CERC webinar this week on risk and crisis communication, and the 6 principles are so directly applicable to any leader right now: Be First, Be Right, Be Credible, Express Empathy, Promote Action, Show Respect.
Remote Work: I posted an article on LinkedIn last week further reflecting on learning and teaching and how to embrace the benefits of our current shared remote experience.
Energy Landscape: Oil and gas prices are falling, emissions are way down, the roads are clear, and so is the air. One colleague I spoke with last week reflected on how we now have an even more compelling case to accelerate the shift to a renewable energy future. Another business leader in my network feels very good about the renewable adjacencies in grid and energy storage modernization.
Entertainment: Sporting events are cancelled, new movie and TV production is on global hiatus, and the late-night talk shows look like they’re being shot on a mobile phone (they probably are). It will be interesting to see how the entertainment sector ramps back-up and whether the high cost, high end production approach resumes or the industry rationalizes to a simpler and lower overhead model.
For the EHS Pros
Professional Development: If you are not on the front lines dealing with the crisis, take time now! I am catching up myself these weeks, partially necessitated by a June 30th deadline for my CIH continuing education 5 year cycle. I completed reading Todd Conklin’s book ‘Pre-Accident Investigations’ and I am about 25% complete with Sidney Dekker’s book ‘The Field Guide to Understanding Human Error’. I’m also completing a very timely series of webinars on crisis and emergency response communication, already mentioned above and put out by the CDC in 2018.
Technology : Great webinar hosted by NAEM last week on technology trends in EHS. I was not surprised to hear that mobile enabled apps and technology are far along the adoption curve!Job Market: I am aware of several EHS roles that have been cancelled, put on hold, or are now in question due to the current market uncertainty. On the other hand, I am still hearing that organizations want to upgrade talent in key positions. I am particularly interested in learning how and when some companies would move to hiring a senior candidate without an in-person interview given the risks and reluctance to travel right now.
riskinsights.ai 