Imagine experiencing one of the worst natural disasters in history and living to tell about it. Imagine the destruction and chaos that follows an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8. The people of Chile are desperately trying to regain control over the fallen regions of their nation, and while many would expect national unity in the aftermath, some individuals have taken to acts of lawlessness and theft as a means of survival.
The catastrophe in Chile is horrific, and it is undeniably one of the greatest natural disasters in history. The people of Chile need support and aid now more than ever if they are to rebuild. Despite the devastation, the people of Chile have learned important lessons about the future. This disaster also provides several learning opportunities for those involved in business. The difficult state of the economy means that companies worldwide have had to make difficult decisions such as reducing workforces, reducing budgets, and redistributing employees. In the eyes of an employee, any of these three scenarios can be seen as a devastating and catastrophic. How can managers keep the peace in the office after the company is shaken by change or reconstruction?
Despite a person’s learned behaviors, individuals will always revert back to natural behaviors in times of crisis. A person can mask or reduce her true reactions in a normal environment, but stress and other pressures will reveal her true behaviors and attitudes. How can managers know what to expect from their employees in times of crisis or high stress?
Assessments reveal each employee’s natural behaviors and learned skills. The results of these assessments can be used to construct teams and fill positions, but they can also help the leadership team. When leaders can identify employee behavior, they can better coach or modify that behavior to create a more productive workforce. Knowing how a person reacts to stress can also allow leaders to alter their communication methods in order to ensure that the message is clearly understood.
Chaos and catastrophe are inevitable in business, and when managers know their employees on a deeper level, they can better prepare to deal with the aftermath.
