We are back again with Dr. Debbie Phillips from the Quadrillion and Mike Weller from Intelligence Consulting Partners as we continue our special series on situational awareness. In this article, we focus on the upcoming holiday season and share insights and tips to help you start preparing for a safe and happy holiday season.
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Host(s): Jonathan Saar from Market Me Social and Mark Howell from Howl Creative Concepts
Show Highlights
Once again, we want to stress the importance of being situationally aware. Unfortunately, statistics show that criminal activity does increase during the holiday season. But what does this mean for you? How can the hustle and bustle of the season leave you with your defenses down, and what can you do to prevent that from happening?
Key Questions/Topics Covered
Why is preparation for the holiday season unique?
The holiday season can assure you of one thing. You are going to be busier than ever! Unfortunately, this can lead to us being overwhelmed, preoccupied, and unaware of what is happening around us.
In order to stay focused while accomplishing our day, we need to start with a plan. That plan should focus on what is actually needed and eliminate anything that is expendable. This affords us the ability to be more present and aware and truly enjoy our holiday season while accomplishing needed tasks.
A “when then” approach to situational awareness
The “when then” principle replaces the old concept of “what if.” It acknowledges that, unfortunately, something could happen, and you need to be prepared for it. A “when then” approach helps us be prepared. For example, when I leave from work, it is going to be dark then I should make sure to park in a well-lit spot. “When then” is about taking ownership and having a plan along with strategies in place of how you can avoid a potential crisis situation and how you will respond if one happens. Having this plan and being situationally aware will help you accomplish your needed holiday tasks in a safe manner.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
The unfortunate reality is that we are all going to face a moment of crisis or tragedy at some point and the holiday season increases that risk. The routine we have established in our lives will dictate our response and the outcome. If we are caught unaware and freeze or don’t make purposeful movements, the outcome is not going to be very good. Instead, we need to have a plan in place and take steps to ensure that we are not overwhelmed by holiday tasks or that our minds are everywhere else but the present.
Along with that, we also want to be sure that we don’t get so busy that we lose sight of what’s most important, staying safe and being able to spend time with our families!
Mike’s Safety Tip: Prevention starts with “P” – Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
Dr. Kathy’s Safety Tip: WIN – Win the day by identifying these steps
W – What’s
I – Important
N – Now
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