Keeping
a cool head is one of the greatest tools in crisis management
YOU'RE
in the middle
of preparing your company's annual report,
handling
a group of overseas investors and pitching for a huge account when the phone
rings. Instead of a routine business call, it's your daughter's school. Turns
out she has measles and you need to pick her up pronto. Every working woman
faces a family emergency every now and then. Instead of stressing out about how
you will juggle five major projects at the office and a domestic disaster, try
to stay calm and lay out an action plan with workable stages. Here are some tips
to help:
Keep
Your Boss In The Loop
Before
you dash off to attend to the catastrophe, it is important that you inform your
boss about the exact nature of the problem. But don't go pouring your heart out
- yet! There's no point in overloading the boss with too many details too soon,
especially if you don't have all the facts handy. Also, if you verbalise too
many details now, it will make it harder for your boss to listen later. Share
the bare facts only; this will help the boss stay open to offering you flexitime
or resources if things go from bad to worse. Make sure you let her know where
you are likely to be and give her a contact number on which you will be
reachable in case she needs some work-related details.
Inform
Your Co-workers And Clients
Apart
from the boss, it is important to call or e-mail at least one team member about
your crisis. This will also give you the opportunity to delegate any urgent
work. In case you have urgent deadlines to meet and can't do so in the
circumstances, send an e-mail to the concerned person along with a copy to your
boss, saying: "I have a family emergency and can't get the information you
requested to you by the date I promised to deliver it. However, my colleague
will look into the matter ASAP." If it is an important customer or client, make
sure you call and explain the situation briefly.
Stay
Connected
It
is always a good idea to request a colleague to send you regular work updates.
With your trusted aide or co-worker serving as your communication liaison in the
office, you're less likely to miss out on work problems that need special
attention.Once you return to work, get people close to your family crisis to
alert you if things get worse, or if there is a relapse in the situation. This
way, you will have both your bases covered.
Request
Help
A
family crisis is not the time to sit on your high horse and try to be a juggle
queen. If you're overstrained and need assistance, ask for it. Don't wait too
long, else you will be swamped. Rope in lots of friends, relatives and even
co-workers for a little help. Remember, if your crisis is really stressful,
it's better to risk straining a few people than overloading yourself to the max.
Request your mum, sister or mother-in-law to stay with you, hire an extra maid
and get someone else to organise your regular household chores till the crisis
passes. In case you need to work from home, ask someone to deliver the paperwork
needed to your home or e-mail the relevant information.
Assign
Time Slots For Work
When
a crisis first arises, it may be tough for you to work and attend to the
emergency simultaneously. It is best to take some leave, tackle the crisis, let
it abate a bit and then deal with pressing work matters. Having focused time
slots will help you do justice to both, the crisis and your work. Choose a time
during which you can have someone else take over your duties on the domestic
front and use that period to deal with the work backlog. If you need to be
present at the office,then request for a flexi-time schedule till the domestic
catastrophe passes.
Consult
Your Company HRIn case your crisis needs long-term attention, it is best to
consult your HR department to find out if your company can provide time off,
dependent-care assistance, financial assistance or another resource that will
help you deal with your situation.
You
Can Make It Work
To
manage your crisis, you need to gain information, find support and stay focused.
Instead of cracking up when the pressure mounts from both sides, ask questions
and don't give up until you get acceptable answers. Once the crisis situation
stabilises, create a plan for your family to cope.
Crisis
Comeback
''I
had just returned from 84 days of maternity leave when crisis struck,'' recalls
Suman Mehta*.''My three-month-old daughter had diarrhoea, which got prolonged.
The paediatrician pronounced her lactose intolerant and stopped all formula
feeds. She was first switched to soya milk for a few days and then had to be
exclusively breast fed on demand. Under such circumstances, it was impossible to
return to work till she could be put on alternate foods like baby cereals.
Though my leave was exhausted, I decided to speak with my boss instead of
resigning She got extra leave approved for me, which helped me deal with the
crisis situation and yet return to work.''
*
Name changed to protect identity
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