What Others Are Saying

Read the praise for Leading People Through Disasters.

"Congratulations on your new book! Due to an extensive travel delay in returning to New York, I had the opportunity to read it after leaving the Past Chairs meeting of SHRM. It should be required reading for every top-level locational, divisional, and HQ human resource representative."

— Bruce Ellig, Former Vice President, Employee Resources of Pfizer, Inc., Past Board Chairman of the Society of Human Resource Management, and author The Complete Guide to Executive Compensation

"After many years in the people-side of business, and after having witnessed firsthand the devastation of 9/11, it was clear the people-side of the business was in dire need of an instructional guide for use in times of chaos. This 'how to' action guide is a must read for all of us who want to be better prepared for the next disaster that may come our way...tomorrow."

— Ann Rhoades, President of PeopleInk; current Director and former Executive Vice President of Jet Blue Airways, and former Vice President People, Southwest Airlines

"Unfortunately, the unexpected happens; disasters occur; and lives are uprooted. In organizations, disasters may take forms ranging from fires, floods, and earthquakes to unexpected trauma. Leading People Through Disasters offers a roadmap to the responsibilities that HR professionals can take and architect to help organizations and people cope with catastrophes. The book provides a template for disaster planning that won't avoid the disaster, but will help mitigate the results. This book should not just be read; it should be applied."

— Dave Ulrich, Coauthor, HR Value Proposition, Professor, University of Michigan, Partner, The RBL Group

"This book should be part of the library of every HR professional, but it shouldn't sit on the shelf. The steps outlined in this book should be put into action by every HR leader to prepare for the human side of any disaster affecting their business. Recent events make it imperative for every business to plan for disasters. Reading Leading People Through Disasters and hearing the personal experience of the authors not only emphasized the importance of having a disaster preparedness plan, it gave us the steps to follow to put one in place. This timely guide is a 'must read' for HR leaders of businesses large and small."

— Libby Sartain, SVP HR Yahoo! Inc., Former VP People Southwest Airlines Co., Coauthor, HR from the Heart and Brand from the Inside

"Should disaster strike, is your business prepared to deal with the human side of crises? An excellent place to start is with Leading People Through Disasters. Preparing to meet disaster can make all the difference, and here's a practical guide that shows you how."

— Richard W. Beatty, Professor of Human Resource Management, Rutgers University, Core Faculty Member, University of Michigan, Ross School of Business Executive Education Center

"This book is a great resource. It's the only book I've seen that makes such a compelling case to include the people issues in your business continuity planning, including employee communication. Plus it contains some great, practical ideas that all companies can easily implement."

— Kimberly R. Walsh, Vice President, Communications, Pacific Gas and Electric Company

"Trauma is debilitating. The inevitable, recurring waves of flashbacks and survivor guilt render us less adaptive, resilient, sensitive and creative — just when we need these capabilities the most. Whether from natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or product recalls, crises haunt us all. McKee and Guthridge have written a marvelous book that takes the old Boy Scout motto, 'Be Prepared,' to new heights. It will help you get ready for and make the best of any crisis. If it has not happened to you, or not recently, get ready, it will and this book will help."

— Richard E. Boyatzis, Professor of Organizational Behavior, Psychology and Human Resources at Case Western Reserve University and ESADE, co-author of the international best-seller, Primal Leadership, and Resonant Leadership

"In normal times, to be successful, organizations require the best human leadership we can provide. In troubled times, as the book Leading People Through Disasters explains quite convincingly, there's no margin of error. All leaders — including communication professionals — can't be insulated or isolated from the situation. They must visibly take charge, get their employees to safety, and communicate clearly, concisely and frequently. Leadership and communication are often synonymous in normal times, and even more so during disasters. This book makes a great business case for being an involved, caring leader regularly interpreting what is happening and the implications. This is the best way to gain the trust and credibility of employees as well as recover jobs and the company."

— Roger D'Aprix, author of Communicating for Change, Communicating for Productivity and The Face-to-Face Communication Toolkit

"In Leading People Through Disasters, Kathryn McKee and Liz Guthridge have performed a valuable service to the business and HR community. These experienced and insightful professionals have provided a manual that is rich on concepts, tools and checklists of how to prepare for and respond to the full range of disasters. By following their guidelines, business and HR professionals can step to the fore to address the difficulties and trauma for customers and employees alike. This book should be read and placed on accessible portion of the book shelf of every business person and HR professional."

— Wayne Brockbank, Clinical Professor of Business, Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan

"If you've got a disaster on your hands, you'll want to read this how-to guide. The real-life examples and the planning principles are just what you'll need to help you chart the best path through the worst times."

— Brad Whitworth, Former Director, Enterprise Communications, California State Automobile Association

"Whether you're an HR professional in a large corporation, a nonprofit, or a small business, Leading People Through Disasters is a book you should keep close at hand. The practical advice and coaching tips it contains are the road map for ensuring the psychological and physical well-being of people in the workplace that you'll need most when you least expect it."

— Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D. author of Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office and Nice Girls Don't Get Rich

"Leading People Through Disasters is a terrific "how-to" guide for anyone in an organization, especially HR and communication professionals. This book makes the point that you've got to prepare for disasters, even when you don't think you have the bandwidth, and explains why this is well worth your time. The act of preparation will make your organization stronger, more nimble and more confident to take on all sorts of challenges and opportunities coming your way."

— Steve Umphreys, Former Senior Vice President of Employee Services, salesforce.com