Most epic failures are caused by ignoring the basics.
Here’s a fictional story to exemplify this point. You may have had or heard of a situation you are able to relate to regarding this topic.
Back some period of time before the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001 to the United States of America, independent of each other, the FBI, the CIA and other agencies and/or operatives had information, which in hindsight, had they all been regularly communicating with each other may have been able to piece together and ultimately have prevented these terrorist attacks (much has been documented and written on this topic and is available online).
One would assume this would become a tremendous lesson learned. A basic in communications 101 among different groups working together.
Fast forward to the current fictional story.
Where a VIP representing their opinions to a large crowd at an open air audience is about to take the podium.
There is some level of concern due to the subject matter and the VIP on this day – to have multiple US protective forces present as well as local police representation. Earlier that day, the most experienced US protective forces team checked on their communication systems, methods and code words for today’s event. They had their own communication systems (comms) and only their authorized personnel would be able to communicate with them.
There were two units with this team.
Team A wore black body armor, black clothes and shoes and a protective helmet or at least a black cap and a bulletproof vest.
Team B wore blue suits, white shirts and ties and black shoes. They were the stage area and VIP security escort unit who had their own comms, however, one designated person had the ability to communicate with Team A.
From the local region there were two distinct units. One group was a Tactical team similar to a SWAT team who wore green camo fatigues, a green camo helmet and boots. They each had long guns and a revolver.
The morning of the event this group met and set up their comms centrally controlled in a comms van nearby. Only their authorized personnel would be able to communicate with them.
The other local group were the police assigned to the event. This team wore dark blue police uniforms and had their typical police gear and weapons. They met two hours before the event and set their walkie talkies to their typical channel for an event. The local police were the only ones on this walkie talkie channel to the best of their knowledge.
Approximately 10 minutes before the VIP is about to take the podium people in the stands at the event are pointing to a rooftop nearby where a person seems to have a long gun and they are laying out and positioning themselves in the direction of the podium. This person is wearing camo fatigues, however more tan based than green based camos. Some of the people who see this person are going right up to police personnel and pointing and showing them what and where they are seeing.
Now the VIP takes the stage and is speaking at the podium and is shot at and wounded. The shooter is terminated within seconds of shooting at the VIP.
In this fictional story, is it possible that if the most basic comms were coordinated between all the various protective teams & groups on site the shooting would have been prevented?
Is it possible the most experienced team personnel thought this person in the tan camo fatigues was part of the local police tactical team
Unfortunately no one was able to communicate with the local police to ask them this urgent question right at that time.
If you know of a situation or have experienced a situation similar to this maybe there were other elements involved and maybe not.
However, at the most basic level, if everyone is able to readily and easily able to communicate with each other epic failures may be prevented.
In your daily life at home and in business where is the lack of communication clearly a problem?
Maybe this should be stated differently – where is the lack of communication not recognized as a problem – even at the most basic levels and at the highest levels?
Think about a few examples of major failures and problems and consider if the communications between groups and people were handled differently or coordinated better would the outcome have been different?
Most epic failures are caused by ignoring the basics.
Wenkroy International LLC is a Professional Advisory company with a main purpose of helping entrepreneurs and business people create the strategy, the plan and the steps necessary to achieve that person’s vision for their business and often their life, while navigating the obstacles which may be blocking them from reaching their goals. The process may involve one on one coaching, advising, laser focus days, personal growth workshops and more. The methods utilized are determined together. The results and value positively impact individuals, teams, divisions and across entire companies. People are now able to focus on what matters most to them, because, they have clarity on where they are heading.
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