How to handle business/corporate crisis management? what is crisis management?

Soft Skills for a Flat World: By Stephen Manallack,Tata McGraw-Hill, 289 pages, Rs395.

Author Stephen Manallack’s latest book, Soft Skills for a Flat World, expands the purview of soft skills from mere conversational and social graces. Focusing on Indian companies that are expanding globally, Manallack believes that their success is based on a blend of communication, spirituality, state of mind and leadership “soft skills”.

Manallack works between Australia and India to provide cross-cultural training. He is a former secretary of the Australia-India Business Council, a business advocacy organization that promotes bilateral trade between the two countries. He is also a mentor in leadership for Asialink at Melbourne University, a centre for promotion of public understanding, business and cultural partnerships to strengthen Australia-Asia engagement. Manallack wrote You Can Communicate in 2002 and co-authored Riding the Elephant—Doing Business And Making Profits in Modern India in 2010.

In a section on how to handle a crisis, he discusses how companies are damaged more by their reaction to a crisis than by the crisis itself. He points out tactics to avoid and fix conflicts and how they can be contained before they turn into a crisis. Edited excerpts: 

 

Handling a Crisis

When good corporations face a crisis or a problem, they take these six steps, and it is worth trying to engender this approach:

1. Get the facts (the first casualty of war is the truth, and it sure disappears when we are angry or in crisis).

2. Communicate action (people respect you if you act positively, even if at first you were wrong).

3. Review stance and processes (take a look at yourself, do you have to change?).

4. Take market soundings (ask others what they think).

5. Change behaviour and practices (you will improve if you try to change).

6. Get the new message across (work on positive communication).

Note how the bad corporation just lashed out in haste, while the good takes its time and considers the situation; this suggests that patience is the key.

Sometimes we face conflict, rather than a crisis. Conflict can escalate into a crisis, so it is important to have a personal approach to conflict. In most areas of working life, disputes and conflict do arise from time to time and can become a crisis. So what do you do about conflict?

 

Is there something underneath it all?

An important first tactic is to explore the possibility that there are some deep problems within the office. There is a simple honesty to this approach that stands you in good stead.

 

Avoid ‘tit for tat’ reactions

Yelling at someone increases the level of conflict. Just as bad is having a go at others behind their back, or using your position to ram something through when skilful communication would produce better long-term outcomes.

 

Don’t force an end to conflict

This might work short-term, but for real long-term resolution of group conflict, let the group work on the conflict. You can apply this at home too, especially with teenagers. A common mistake parents make is to lead by “instruction” instead of leading by discussion.

 

Crushing people today can ruin them for tomorrow

If one person is playing up, the best senior corporate executives know that simply crushing them might end the misbehaviour today, but the cost could be that the person leaves the group or makes a lesser contribution to the team. This can be quite a loss, so hesitate and think before you use heavy criticism to end conflict.

Resolving conflict harmoniously is not a matter of being weak or letting people walk all over you within the office. We all face tricky emotional situations (at home, school or work) when it is important to assert yourself. You will say “no” and mean it more often if you have made a prior decision to be strong. The best way to assert yourself is straightaway. If, for example, you suspect there is a conflict brewing in the office, gather the right people together and talk about it; do not hesitate.

One further lesson from the corporate world is while being assertive and dealing with a problem situation, try to keep a steady, friendly gaze into the other person’s or the group’s eyes. Almost every communication training programme for senior executive places a lot of focus on eye contact. If you look at the ceiling, cover your mouth, look anxiously back and forth, you will be misunderstood, sowing the seeds for the next crisis.

Relaxation Techniques And Exercises

With stress being an almost constant, destructive part of our lives, it has become extremely important to make relaxation an equally important one. Stress associated with our everyday lives can lead to physical and mental problems ranging from headaches and colds to heart attacks and high blood pressure. 

Learning and practicing a few relaxation techniques on a daily basis can help you lead a life that is healthy and stress free. Students, professionals, homemakers and business owners; everyone can enjoy the benefits of relaxation techniques. A few relaxation techniques that are easy to learn, are risk free and can be done anywhere and everywhere, follow. The aim of these relaxation techniques is to increase the practitioner’s awareness of his or her own body and to refocus the attention to calming thoughts and ideas 

 

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique: Progressive muscle relaxation is carried out by slowly tensing and relaxing one muscle group after the other. To practice, one starts by tensing the muscles of the toes and then consciously relaxing them as much one can. Tense muscles as much as you can and hold for five seconds, relax them for 30 seconds and then repeat the process. Progressively keep on tensing and relaxing muscles of different parts of the body till you reach the neck and then the head. This technique focuses on relaxation by helping users recognise the difference between tense and relaxed states. 

 

Autogenic Relaxation Technique: This relaxation technique is called autogenic because it leads to calming through ideas and thoughts that come from within the person practicing this technique. Both bodily awareness and visual imagination are used to reduce physical and mental tension. To practice, imagine being at a peaceful place like the beach or an open garden, and concentrate on breathing slowly, thus bringing down the heart rate. You can also keep repeating a mantra like “relax”, “calm” or “chill” in your mind, or focus on relaxing each part of the body one by one. Imagine the tension leaving each part of your body as you slowly breathe out.  

 

Visualisation: Visualisation is a relaxation technique where one visualises being in a peaceful or calming situation, which is far away from the current situation which is stressing out the practitioner. Close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting amidst the sea gulls on a beach or sleeping in your bed. The more senses you use – sight, sound, smell and touch – the more you will benefit from visualisation. You can imagine smelling the flowers in a garden or listening to the sound of a brook flowing nearby. While you can practice visualisation almost anywhere, it is best done at a calm and quiet spot. 

These relaxation techniques will help you tackle stress and its symptoms by lowering blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. They will also help in reducing muscle tension, frustration, anger and other negative effects of stress that take a toll on your health. Practicing these relaxation techniques can help one de-stress and avoid illnesses and tension related ailments. 

Apart from these, rhythmic exercises like walking, jogging, swimming or cycling; yoga, tai chi and other sport forms are also good means of relaxing the body as well as the mind. Massage and meditation are also great ways of relaxing but they might take more time than you have when you need an instant fix of stress relief. You can reap not just instant, but lifelong benefits of these relaxation techniques and exercises by practicing them on a daily basis. Taking time out on a regular basis every day for relaxation will help keep you grounded, happy and healthy, and save you from the adverse effects of the stresses and tensions of modern life. 

Note: Please consult your Doctor for more details and guidance.  This is just for the general awareness of the readers

Do not dismiss them as unimportant, harmless people. They can be much more dangerous and unpredictable than you imagine...

Stalkers are dangerous!

Do not dismiss them as unimportant, harmless people. They can be much more dangerous and unpredictable than you imagine...

Next time you have someone random come up to you talking about things you don’t remember having discussed with the person, watch out! This could be a creepy stalker. And no matter how harmless he/she may seem, we suggest that you be careful as they can be really twisted in their heads. “I had a stalker who was following me for over two years. And the funny thing is, I was totally unaware of this,” says Lila Tiwari, 23, who was stalked by a guy in college. She adds, “He called me one day and that’s when I realised he had been keeping a track of my regular activities...he knew my whereabouts, he was aware of my friends circle...it was freaky to find out how well he knew my routine. I dismissed it initially but then he told me he wanted to marry me and though I snapped at him and lambasted him, nothing affected him, at all! And after weeks of trying to convince me, he attempted to run me over.” Shweta Sankar, a 28-year-old media professional shares a recent incident where she happened to come face to face with a stalker. “I once met a guy at a party through a group of friends. While talking to him, I realised he knew quite a bit about me, including details of where I worked etc. When I asked him about it, he claimed a friend had told him. Later, I realised that he had seen me at an event and asked around about me. He had even tried to add me on a social networking site a few months earlier. The fact that he knew more about me and wasn’t honest about it was enough to creep me out,” she says. Psychiatrist Hemant Mittal explains, “A stalker is a person with extremely low self-esteem, because of which they are very fearful of expressing their emotions. This further drifts them from reality as they fall in love with a person and form an illusion in their head. Disassociating from the reality, they start attaching attributes to the person who they mostly know only by face. They chart out a character sketch of the person with absolutely no real characteristics.” Once a stalker confronts you and you identify him, don’t keep quiet about it, emphasises Hemant. Dealing with stalkers * Every stalker is dangerous. So never keep quiet about it. Let your friends/family know of the stalker as these people could even throw acid or try and hurt you if you don’t respond to their advances. * Talk to the stalker’s family. But, never do that alone. Take a close friend/confidant along. * Carry pepper spray. * Be on your guard and always check if the person is following you. * Change your routine/whereabouts that they are well aware of. * Last resort — if things get out of hand, go to the police.

Rabbits are very susceptible to heat stress

Rabbits are very susceptible to heat stress

...responds to queries raised by animal lovers across the city

Could my rabbit have diarrhoea? Yes, there are several things that may be causing diarrhoea. Seek advice from your local veterinarian to make a definitive diagnosis. Inappropriate diets: A history of a low-fibre diet, high carbohydrate diet or even sudden dietary change can produce diarrhoea. Affected rabbits are often depressed, dehydrated and have no appetite. It needs proper nutrition and antibiotics after a physical exam. Inappropriate antibiotic therapy: Two or three days of antibiotics such as amoxicillin, ampicillin, and clindamycin produce diarrhoea. The antibiotics decrease the natural flora in the intestines. Talk to your vet about different antibiotic treatment and proper diagnosis. Mucoid enteritis: More common in young rabbits. A vet would be able to make a diagnosis. Bacterial enteritis: Uncommon in rabbits, although sepsis develops quickly. Aggressive and supportive care will have to be administered. My rabbit has red urine. Could it be blood? On seeing red urine in the bottom of the cage, most owners think there is an emergency. Often the red colour is a normal pigment from porphyrin production. True hematuria, however, is an emergency and a urine dipstick is a quick way to determine if the red urine contains blood. Reproductive disorders: Uterine adenocarcinoma, uterine torsion and more rarely, abortion, may all cause red urine. An ultrasound will be most helpful in determining the organ involved. Female rabbits should be spayed to prevent the cancer adenocarcinoma. Urinary Tract Disease: Red urine can also be seen in rabbits with systitis, urolithiasis and pyelonephritis. The treatment is the same as in dogs and cats. My rabbit collapsed. What should I do? The differential diagnosis for collapses and seizures can include trauma, heat stress, encephalitozoonosis, pasteurellosis, pregnancy toxemia, snake bite, lead poisoning and rabies. Seizures are uncommon. If presented, call veterinarian immediately. Heat Stress: Rabbits are very susceptible to heat stress. Outdoor temperatures above 85F make them especially vulnerable if housed outdoors. Body temperature can be above 106F. If rabbits are outside, do not cool them down quickly but in a slow process. IV fluids may need to be administered by a veterinarian. Lukewarm baths will help. Pregnancy toxemia: Overweight pregnant or post baby rabbits are those most often seen with pregnancy toxemia. Many are weak, ataxic, depressed, recumbent and/or close to death. Seek medical treatment and proper diagnosis.

Berry good Want to know what’s best about berries? Read on

Berry good

Want to know what’s best about berries? Read on

BLACKBERRY 

    Blackberries are nutritious and are often considered to be the best of the berry family. They are high in antioxidants, anthocyanin, salicylic acid, ellagic acid, and rich in fibre and Vitamins C and K. These berries have been shown to help reduce certain cancer risks and are good for cardiovascular health. They are also said to have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.
BEST EATEN: Pick the fresh, juicy ones and wash them. Do not have the entire fruit. Have small bites of it and avoid the centre.
Nutritional facts Vitamin C: 50% Manganese: 47% Vitamin K: 36 % Vitamin A: 6% Calcium: 4% Iron: 5% *Per cup 

 

BLUEBERRY 

    Blueberries are packed with Vitamin C, manganese and fibers. Polyphenols in blueberries give them antioxidant properties. Manganese in them plays an important role in bone development and in converting the proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the food into energy.
BEST EATEN: Blueberries are not too sweet and can be had as they are. Heat a pan and mix a little sugar in the fruit, (a dash of brandy is optional) and then serve in an attractive short glass or cup with a small dollop of whipped cream on top.  

Nutritional facts Vitamin K: 36 % Manganese: 25% Vitamin C: 24% Vitamin A: 2% Iron: 2% *Per cup 

 

CRANBERRY 

    Cranberries are rich in Vitamin C, but their acidic nature and the unusual nature of their proanthocyanidins make them extremely beneficial for health. The entire fruit, and not just the juice, shows presence of phytonutrients that is good for overall health.
BEST EATEN: Cranberry can be used in cooking like we use lemon. These berries not only work well with sweets and tarts, but also go well with spicy, flavoured foods.
Nutritional facts Vitamin C: 24% Manganese: 20% Vitamin K: 7 % Iron: 2% Vitamin A, Calcium: 1% *Per cup 

 

STRAWBERRY 

 

    Strawberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant.
These pretty red berries are low in calories, but have health-promoting phytonutrients, minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health.
    They have high amounts of phenolic flavonoid phytochemicals called anthocyanin and ellagic acid and studies claim they may help against ageing, inflammation and neurological diseases.
BEST EATEN: Tastes best raw with fresh cream  

Nutritional facts Vitamin C: 149% Manganese: 29% Vitamin K: 4 % Iron: 3% Calcium 2% *Per cup  

 

 

 RASPBERRY 

 Raspberries are low in calories, but are a very rich source of dietary fibre. The large amount of Vitamin C present in them makes these berries very good antioxidants. High levels of a compound known as ellagic acid, a polyphenol prized for its anticarcinogenic properties is present in them.
BEST EATEN: Can be eaten raw, in fruit salads, as a puree or jam. Make a smoothie in the blender with milk or yogurt.
Nutritional facts Vitamin C: 54% Manganese: 41% Vitamin K: 12 % Calcium: 3% Iron: 5% *Per cup