Costa Concordia - How Exposed Is Your Business?

All Aboard! This is what you hear just before the procedures begin to prepare for undocking. How many of the passengers who boarded the ship Costa Concordia recall hearing those words the last time they boarded this ship?

It is the call for everyone who expects to be aboard the ship, to board the ship. These words are said in many languages, and are a routine announcement to be heard, especially on passenger vessels. The workplace of a merchant mariner is a floating workplace. In port, the ship is afloat. At sea, the ship is afloat. Everything is about routine. Every single person who is a crew member must undergo extensive training.

From the Captain, to the laundry lad, each member of the crew of a Merchant Marine vessel plying the deep sea must have training in emergency procedures, safety procedures, be CPR certified, and Red Cross (or equivalent) certified. For passenger ships all members of the crew should be, in Disney like fashion, trained in customer care and customer service. Everything is about defined structure and the chain of command.

The Officers of a merchant ship must have further training and certifications. What we are all reading about and hearing about is disgraceful and cowardly behavior by a few people who are giving Merchant Mariners all over the world a bad name. Yes, it is possible the Captain will be convicted as a criminal for his actions. There are severe and deeper issues within this ship, and the company, which allowed this type of behavior to exist. A leader clearly in rank only is not the only person to blame for the reactions by the entire crew during this moment when the entire world was watching.

For the people who were hurt or lost their lives due to this incident, we all feel sadness and offer prayers in their names. For the companies who are responsible for these ships and their employees, this is how your company, your brand and your employees will always be remembered.

What might they have done to prevent this from happening? Rather than solve this question here, which is what I am paid to do for a living, review the processes in place and revamp, upgrade and put into place what works based upon sound leadership principles. Let’s instead look at your company, your business?

How are you exposed? What do your people do every single minute of every day which exposes you, your company, and potentially may harm others? Do you ever analyze this and with the results create the process, the training, and the procedures to prevent this from taking place?

The time has come to look at your company and your business in the mirror and take the actions and corrective measures necessary to be the best company you can create.

Contact Mitch Tublin today to speak to your organization or business about this unfortunate incident, other lessons from the maritime industry, or leadership lessons for business and life. Designed for your leadership team, your employees and everyone in your organization, Mitch inspires, motivates and challenges his audience to lead to live and thrive in everything they do. Contact his team herern- www.thementorguy.com.