[POLL] How do you make your significant other feel included?

We all try to achieve a healthy work-life balance, but that doesn't always mean we should separate the two. It is beneficial to include your significant other in company-related topics so they understand your company's culture and can support you better in times of need.

What actions are important to make your significant other feel included in your company's culture? Are some more difficult than others?

Knowing when to ask for help

As business leaders, others constantly look up to you for advice and guidance. The expectation is that you’ll know what to do and the pressure to deliver a timely and helpful answer is high. But what happens when you need to ask for help? Who do you turn to?

The first thing to do is stay in control. Take ownership and responsibility for the situation so that you maintain your employees’ confidence.

Ask the right questions. Sometimes finding the answer is dependent on what questions you ask. Create a list of well thought out questions before approaching others. 

Be open to suggestions. Invite other team members to contribute in solving the problem. However, don’t hand-off the situation to someone else. Make sure you are collaborating and working together to find a conclusion.

Reach out to your network. Sometimes help is just a call away so think of a peer removed from the situation, either internal or outside of your organization. Ask for their perspective and they might be able to see the answer more clearly from an outside view.

Participate in regular training. Asking for help doesn’t always have to happen when a problem arises. Identifying professional areas that need improvement and seeking out training or additional resources is another form of reaching out. 

Who do you consult when struggling with a business decision?

TEC brings together senior-level executives in a confidential environment. In order to help each other succeed, TEC members listen and give feedback to their peers seeking business advice.

Who do you turn to when struggling with a business decision?

Do you have a crisis management plan?

No matter how small or large your business is, the importance of having a crisis management plan is tremendous.

Here are a few things to think about in order to plan for a crisis: 

Who: Select your crisis management team. This group is responsible for creating, communicating, maintaining and executing your crisis communication plan.

What: Create your crisis management documents including:

• Statements from the CEO
• E-mail drafts
• Press releases
• Contact lists (stake holders, employees, media)
• Non-traditional lists (social media groups and lists of key influencers)

When: React as soon as possible. To ensure a speedy reaction time, schedule ongoing meetings with your crisis management team to update the plan, contact lists and communities. Outline the timeline of events and appropriate steps so all employees are well-versed in the process.

Where: Save your plan in a secure place where all employees can access it from any location. It is important that everyone knows where to direct outside questions.

Why: A poor crisis response can send your business crashing down. However, a successful crisis plan execution can potentially create a better position for your organization afterward.

How have you handled a crisis in your organization? Did you have a plan? 

[POLL] The importance of a crisis communication plan.

When a business crisis arises, it is important to lead your organization through a quick and effective response. To accomplish this task, and overcome a potentially disastrous situation, you need to develop a crisis communication plan beforehand. The goal of developing a plan is to get the conversation started about what might happen and how you can effectively manage a situation.

What is one of your main motivations to create a crisis communication plan? Why is it important to you and your organization?