The MEAPA Way Blog - Tornado

Does Everybody in the Organization Have the Opportunity to Contribute?

All the conditions were coming together and there was nothing I could do about it.  The weathermen were saying that the unstable atmosphere was perfect to set off a series of violent storms across the mid-West.  While it is easy to dismiss weather as something that happens beyond our control, it is representative of all the situations we find ourselves in as both individuals and organizations.  Consider customer decisions, market forces, the economy, political choices, competitors, sickness, accidents and all the other things that impact our lives.  Honestly, they are all beyond our control. 

The fact is that we live and operate in a world that constantly throws challenges at us that are not of our making.  We cannot control these forces nor can we avoid them.  This reality is not a reason to become depressed, rather, it highlights the critical importance of our response.

When an F-4 tornado hit the community of MEAPA co-founder Peter Abramo, a group of people went quickly into action.  Twenty-five homes were instantly destroyed and personal belongings were scattered across open fields for miles.  There was an overwhelming amount of work to do in a chaotic situation where there was no obvious starting point.   Being in a rural community, there was no central office or governmental body to lead the recovery effort so it was taken on by the men and women who lived there. 

Regular, untrained, unassuming people who prepared food and fed hundreds of people, coordinated the delivery and dissemination of thousands of pieces of clothing, provided access to hygienic products, showers and water for all those affected.  With no county, state, or federal assistance, citizens used their own tractors and other equipment they could find to clear debris, remove wreckage, and take down damaged trees.  A tremendous amount of work was accomplished over a couple of weeks that transformed the landscape and allowed rebuilding to begin.  As so often happens in such situations, a lot of work was accomplished by people who were not expected to do it.

Why do some people step up in an emergency and tackle tough problems?  Perhaps a more interesting question is why are these same people not always tackling the everyday, ongoing challenges with the same focus and effectiveness?  It may not have anything to do with the person at all – but rather the mindset of our leaders and the structure we have built around them. 

Consider your organization for a minute.  There are people inside your organization who are likely to step up in a crisis but who are marginalized in everyday operations due to their job description, the organizational structure, available training, or their perceived background.  Where are the pockets of wise insight, can-do attitude, motivating leadership, and new ideas that do not come to the surface in the everyday operations of your organization?  How can you identify and encourage them so your organization can be more effective?  An organization will only grow as much as its people grow, and an effective organization will ensure that this happens so the employees/members can apply their talents.