Six steps to a crisis-proof company

Severe storms, pandemics, cyber attacks and more: Crisis situations are occurring with increasing frequency and are increasingly defining the reality of life. Companies therefore need organizational resilience, i.e. the ability to anticipate crisis events, minimize their impact on business operations and ensure the safety of their employees. 

Everbridge shows how companies can become more resilient in six steps.

1. invest in the well-being of employees. Companies are only as resilient as their employees. Investing in training, mentoring, and resources that promote workforce well-being and mental health is therefore a top priority. Happy and healthy employees are better able to deal with crises and are more engaged in managing them.

2. develop a resilient corporate culture. A resilient workforce also requires the right culture. Companies should recognize the successes of their employees, encourage them to learn from mistakes, and promote their cooperation. Then employees develop a strong sense of community, stick together in crises and pull together.

3. maintain a leadership style of integrity. Managers in the company must set a good example. If they provide clear guidance, set realistic expectations and are approachable at all times, they create a sense of trust and stability among employees that will pay off in crisis situations.

4. promote agile thinking and working. Solving problems quickly, adopting new approaches at short notice if necessary, and adapting to new challenges: These are the hallmarks of a resilient organization. Companies can develop these capabilities by promoting agile mindsets and agile working methods.

5. proactively manage risk. Resilience requires a proactive approach. Resilient companies continuously assess potential risks, develop contingency plans and test them regularly. This then enables them, should the worst happen, to minimize disruption to business operations and recover quickly from setbacks.

6. use integrated and intuitive technology. Technology plays a key role in building a resilient organization. Organizations need business continuity, disaster recovery and risk management tools that work seamlessly together and are intuitive enough to be used by anyone in a crisis.

"Investing in your resilience is no longer optional for companies. Building a resilient organization is now a top priority," said Stefica Divkovic, senior vice president at Everbridge. "With the above six steps, we aim to provide a guide for companies to assess their resilience and make necessary improvements if needed."

Source: Everbridge