Are You Ready to Lead? An Assessment

How ready are you to lead your organization through a disaster, especially focusing on the human side? Take our quick assessment to find out. At the end, we'll tell you how you stand.

Email this assessment to a colleague.

1.	Do you have a business continuity plan that covers human issues?
		What plan?
		Our plan covers physical, financial, and operational hazards but not people issues.
		Yes, our plan is comprehensive, covering people issues as well as other aspects of our business.
2.	Do you have a crisis communication plan that's integrated with your business continuity plan?
		What plan?
		Our plan deals with communication issues only.
		Yes, our crisis communication plan is coordinated with our business continuity plan. Plus, our crisis communication plan covers external and internal audiences.
3.	Do you regularly test your plans?
		We have no plans to test.
		Well, we have plans but we don't regularly test them.
		Yes, we test our plans at least once a year in the dark (without power).
4.	Do you and the other leaders you work with have the competencies to lead in a disaster?
		My boss is responsible for leading.
		I don't know, but I think I should learn.
		I hope that we're qualified, but I'm willing to buy the book and learn about the competencies so we can definitely be prepared.
5.	Have you created contingent HR policies in case of a disaster?
		We barely have regular HR policies.
		We've thought about it. Does that count?
		Yes, we have developed policies on a range of issues, including pay, hazardous duty pay, timekeeping, flex time, travel, expense reimbursement, temporary housing, work reassignment and other issues.
6.	Do you have the services of an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) or some other organization on call to help in case of a disaster?
		No.
		Yes.
		Yes, and we have confirmed that our EAP can provide trained counselors within 24 to 48 hours of an incident and then follow-up resources weeks to months after the incident to those most at risk.
7.	Do employees have brief instructions (on their ID card or on a wallet card) about what to do in various types of emergencies?
		No.
		It depends.
		Yes, each employee's ID card has an emergency phone and website plus instructions on where to evacuate and other useful information.
8.	When something happens during off hours, can you quickly and easily get in touch with all of your employees?
		Don't know. It depends on the employee's supervisor.
		Yes, we have a telephone tree, and each manager keeps employees' up-to-date phone numbers and addresses.
		Yes, we have a telephone tree of employees' home and cell phone numbers, plus we have employees' personal e-mail addresses. We also have a website ready to go up as well as a public website groups forum.
9.	Do employees participate in testing your plans?
		We have no plans to test.
		Yes, if you define "test" as having about half of the employees who are in the building go outside and stand around while the other half continues to work.
		Yes, we get everyone involved in our tests, and we make sure we use different scenarios each time to keep people interested and engaged.
10.	Do you have a personal disaster preparedness plan for yourself and your family?
		What plan?
		Yes.
		Yes. Plus we've tested it, and have all the up-to-date supplies we need.
Now five quick questions about your organization for classification purposes only.
11.	How many employees do you have in your organization?
		Less than 100
		100 — 500
		501 — 1,000
		1,001 — 5,000
		More than 5,000
12.	How many locations does your organization have?
		Single site
		2 — 10 locations
		11 — 25
		26 — 50
		More than 50
13.	Where are your locations?
		In one city or region
		In multiple cities in the same state
		In multiple states
		Multiple international sites
14.	What is your business structure?
		Publicly-traded corporation
		Privately-held corporation
		Sole proprietor
		Partnership or LLC
		Non-profit
		Government
15.	What industry sector best describes your organization?
		Business services
		Construction
		Consumer goods
		Education
		Financial services
		Government
		Health care
		Hospitality
		Manufacturing
		Non-profit
		Technology
		Telecommunications
		Transportation
		Utility