Communicating During An Emergency

Did you know it is very possible to be prepared and professional during an emergency and still make communication mistakes? Unfortunately, this happens too often! So, since we are urged by FEMA to practice preparedness today, I'm listing the top 3 ways to avoid communication errors during an emergency.

1. Know that "one size does NOT fit all" when it comes to forms. It is very frustrating to have people write down their issues during a disaster, especially if they're seeking relief. Mistakes get made on the form, people tend to be so bogged down with worry that they overlook crucial information, etc. When you have someone assessing people for assistance, make sure you have an advocate to review every single form with them. Information may be needed or there may be extenuating circumstances that are outside of the forms' perimeters.

2. Don't skimp on technology upgrades. Cutting corners to save a few, or a few thousand, dollars is a mistake! Why? During an emergency the technology upgrades could provide quicker responses, access to vital information, link up with systems that can obtain relief, and so much more. Not buying the proper software, or the upgrades, for the sake of saving a dollar is irresponsible and can slow down communication efforts.

3. Seek out social media to help you communicate vital information. You might be asking yourself,"what if all cell phones are out?" Well, that could be- but what if only some of them are out? Other people will still see the information on social media and it will carry. Social media is a great tool. Not using it during an emergency is a major mistake - just consider the many benefits the city of Boston gained out of social media when tracking the marathon bombers!

I hope this information helps. If you have questions, please contact me directly. I'm always available to talk- by email, phone, or Twitter.

Twyla N. Garrett

Is the new Blackberry right for your business?

Ok, I've tried out all the phones. But, I couldn't help but hear a slow buzz building over the new Blackberry model. Blackberry phones are great because they really do operate as a functional computer in your hand. Open documents, create documents, etc... And it doesn't help that the iPhone really has made the Blackberry look like the black sheep of smart phones.

So what is all the buzz about with the new Blackberry? I'm here to provide you with some more info. If you have the 411, you may be able to decide if your current phone works for your business or if the new Blackberry can help you drive new business.

Pro # 1. The new Blackberry (BB) has two internal operating systems. One for personal use and one for work. This means you can toggle between apps for your personal life and apps for managing your business, employees and business' social media accounts.

Pro # 2. Email is going to be fast.... I mean super fast. I'm sure not a day goes by that you don't have an email from a friend or business person that says, "sent from my Blackberry." Have you ever wondered why all these people are not switching to the iPhone? Well, BB's email is known for being fast but the new OS promises even quicker (is that possible?) email service. This is a great feature when closing deals or solving customer issues.

I'm sure there are going to me more BB OS benefits showcased through commercials and a heavy online social media campaign. My advise? Don't discount the BlackBerry until you have tried it. Sure, you may not have all the Droid run apps but you will gain a lot of business benefits that will do more for you than a word game or celebrity alarm clock!

Twyla