Managing People in Emergencies → Personal Planning and Effectiveness

Personal Planning and Effectiveness

Working in emergencies is challenging. To maximise your effectiveness you need to find ways to stay motivated, confident and organised around the chaos.

 

Four ways to increase personal effectiveness

1. Understand what motivates and inspires you

What do you want to gain from this experience? How realistic is that? Focus on what’s important to you and maintain a positive frame of mind. Stay in touch with family and friends by phone/email and carry photos/mementos.

2.   Keep learning and improving yourself

What are your strengths and weaknesses? How can you maintain a balance between hard work and achievement of objectives, and leisure and/or family? Develop skills of listening, empathy, clear communication and relaxation.

3.   Get organised

Everything is urgent in emergencies, but an organised approach will help manage the most important priorities and minimise time wasting and stress. Develop a clear work plan and filing system. (see ‘Time Management tips’).

4.   Maintain your health and fitness

A balanced diet, regular exercise and 6-8 hours sleep a day are key. (see ‘Staying Healthy and Managing Stress’ page.). Ensure regular Rest & Relaxation breaks.

 

Personal planning for emergency assignments in the field

BEFORE:

• Consider how you will cope with conditions in the field – living in a tent; no privacy; poor sanitation; emergency rations; dealing with death and destruction; giving psychological support, etc?
• Prepare your travel, health, finance, insurance, personal paperwork, luggage and other belongings
• Ensure a clear briefing from the organisation, clarifying your terms and conditions, where you will be working and who you will be working with. (see ‘Briefing and Handover’ page)

DURING:

• Ensure clear briefings in the field including security briefing
• Clarify your tasks, expectations and reporting lines
• •et up work space and communications – email address. Internet access, telephones, Skype, filing etc.
• Get to know your team in the office and in the field
• Set up day-to-day living e.g. food, accommodation, transport, exercise, leisure
• Find out local medical , dental, banking, postal, telephone facilities
• Think about handover – what will you need to record and how?

AFTER:

• Ensure a debriefing and thorough medical check up is arrange
• Maintain contacts who are important to you
• Plan talking about your work to the public e.g. in meetings or press
• Give yourself time to adjust back to life and work

Adapted from Engineering In Emergencies, Jan Davis and Robert Lambert,2003

Personal Contingency Planning

Plan ahead for future disasters. Prepare a checklist of equipment to have ready, whether it is an evacuation or staying at home with limited services:

• laptop; internet access; printer; cell phone; chargers; battery powered radio, full tank of gas;
• back-up important business documents and keep safe and accessible
• keep personal documents safe and accessible – for identification and financial