Thanks for your comments! Just because executives are in the position they are in doesn’t mean they’re completely comfortable being there just yet. And I have yet to find a course that trains executives on how to work successfully with admin support…so it becomes our jobs as admins to provide that “on the job” training for them.

I am super lucky to have been in the administrative profession my entire career as I now fully step into the executive role as a business owner. I feel like it has given me insights that most executives haven’t had. So I’m happy to share my discoveries as my evolution continues as well!

Julie P.

The thing about documented procedures and lists, etc. is that in a crisis you are maxing out your emotions and mental capacity already with the crisis at hand, so having these things already on paper as a guide to help you navigate the issues at hand is one less thing your head and body has to manage and process through. They may not be perfect for every situation, but they sure beat having nothing at all! And once the issue or crisis has passed, if you update them again with what you wished you’d had in there that you didn’t, then they get even better the more you use them.

Thanks again for sharing your personal experiences and insights here!

Julie P.

Just read your message about emergency procedures. Health care facilities are required by the Joint Commission and State and County regulating agencies to prepare and update annually, a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP). The Plan must be filed with each regulating agency.

Our Plan focuses on one type of emergency. Since we are in Florida, the emergency focus is hurricanes. However, the Plan is written so that it can be implemented at any time for any emergency incident — natual or manmade.

Some of the questions the Plan answers are: Who is in charge during an emergency? Who are the key personnel? What provisions are made to secure crucial business records and equipment? What is each person’s role in an emergency? If evacuation is necessary, how is it prioritized and who is the leader? Where does the staff evacuate to, and what routes are utilized? How do the key players communicate with staff, and how will they know when it’s time to return to work? What provisions are made for the staff’s safety during an emergency? What contingencies are specific to the business and how are they handled?

Obviously there are many variables, and circumstances change at the speed of light these days, but a well written plan provides peace of mind, and encourages safety mindedness.