Proximity & Options + "Hack & Leak" Operations + Business in a Wartime Scenario
Profiles in Preparedness #9
The closer a threat is—whether in time or distance—the fewer options you have to protect yourself or respond effectively. This concept, originally an unpublished section from Left of Bang, highlights the critical role that leaders play in preparing their organizations for an uncertain future.
Leaders need to understand how much time is available before a threat impacts them and how much time they need to act decisively. These two elements, taken together, determine the conditions that pre-incident situational awareness platforms and incident response plans need to account for in left-of-bang decision-making.
It probably sounds simple, but a decision that is never prompted is never made. Developing incident response plans without building the systems needed to alert and notify key decision-makers about an issue rarely produces the results that organizations need during disasters, disruptions, and crises.
But, by enhancing situational awareness (with both people and technology) and preparing organizations to act swiftly when time is limited, leaders can create options that less-prepared counterparts lack.
The cycle begins, though, with the prompt—the notice that conditions are changing. Prepared organizations acknowledge this dynamic and then design systems to streamline it.
As you continue through what is hopefully a slower and more reflective time of year, I certainly encourage you to assess your readiness. Think about the decisions you make and ensure the platforms needed to make informed decisions are not only in place but also providing you with the trusted alerts needed for you to thrive in your job.
With that, here is a selection of articles (mine and others) to help you get left of bang.
Here is what I’ve been working on this week
Article | Preparing Races for an Uncertain Future. I had the chance to present at the (truly incredible) NCS4 Marathon and Endurance Events Safety & Security Forum this week. I put a few of the key pieces from my talk into this article, highlighting the three changes in the public safety operating environment that should influence your readiness and outlining the four recommendations I have for organizations looking to develop their decision-making capability while left of bang.
Podcast | The Leadership Crucible Podcast. Back in October, I had the chance to join Randy Bruegman on his podcast and truly enjoyed the chance to talk about some of my favorite topics (left of bang, leadership, and preparing for an uncertain future).
A Few Other Things I Read This Week Worth Sharing
Article | How Hack and Leak Shapes Public Policy. Here is a fascinating look at how the "hack-for-hire" industry is disrupting legal cases or shaping public perception around issues. This article includes links to two longer-form articles from Reuters that show the history and reach of the practice (and the topics that get people to click malicious links). It was interesting to see that only private investigators (not the firms or people employing them) have been held accountable.
Article | How Southwest Airlines Lost Its Groove. Preparing for an uncertain future is a continual exercise in change. Organizations that prepare to change will have a key advantage over those who are resistant to it. That was on my mind as I read this article about Southwest Airlines. Here is a quote: “Southwest experienced great success adhering to one business model for a bunch of years, and then the world around them changed and they didn’t really adapt.” Yet, it still carries more passengers than any U.S. airline and operates more flights than any airline in the world except American Airlines. Assessing the performance of organizations and industries navigating change will require a constant balance of conflicting information and perceptions.
LinkedIn Post | Surface Area and Stress. This longer-length post provides a great look at what makes us feel so busy, stressed, and anxious. Using relatable examples of homes, friends, money, and business, the more we take on, the more energy we must spend maintaining in. The ability to focus and prioritize the small number of things that provide the greatest reward and enjoyment (however you define that) starts by keeping your surface area small. This was a good reminder as we enter the holiday season.
Article | Top NATO Official Calls on Business Leaders to Prepare. Business continuity, supply chain resilience, continuity of operations, mission assurance. The topic has many names, some less inspiring than others, but the ability of an organization to operate despite disruptions is critical to their success (and also the security of a nation. "Because while it may be the military who wins battles, it's the economies that win wars."
For When You’re Ready
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And if you’re thinking about how to strengthen your organization's preparedness, that’s what I do. Whether it’s assessments, planning, speaking, or exercises, I help teams build the skills and strategies to stay ahead of the next challenge.