The Indigo Podcast

We hope you laugh listening, as much as we did in prepping for this episode. Shout out to Jordan J. in Washington D.C. for submitting quite a few ideas on this fun topic. In a survey by CareerBuilder.com in 2009, 40% of respondents revealed that they have dated a coworker. Taboo?

We're drawing upon a nice summary in the Encyclopedia of Industrial/Organizational Psychology written by Charles Pierce of the University of Memphis, also a good article in the MIT Sloan Management Review by John Pearce of Villanova University.

• Different types of workplace romances and how they form
• Impacts on the individual, team and broader organization
• Implications--what should we do and not do...

This is part two in our series on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Manual. Part one explored "Crisis Management Communication: Principles and Pitfalls," check out that one too.

Today we're going to talk about:

• Four ways people process information during a crisis
• Mental states in a crisis
• Behaviors in a crisis
• Addressing psychology in the crisis and emergency risk communication rhythm

#crisismanagementcommunication

This is the first of what will likely be a handful of episodes on crises and related topics. We are drawing DIRECTLY from some amazing resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and we've included a link to all of these resources in the show notes. What we love about these resources is that it's all evidence-based, drawing upon the relevant social science literature. And it doesn't just have to do with public health emergencies.

• The six principles of crisis and emergency risk communication
• The phases of a crisis and the communication rhythm
• Pitfalls to avoid and implications for everyone

Show Notes

CDC's Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) manual is based on psychological and communication sciences, studies in issues management, and practical lessons learned from emergency responses. The CERC manual is intended for public health response officials and communicators who have a basic knowledge of public health communication, working with the media and social media, and local and national response structures. Learn more and download it here: https://emergency.cdc.gov/cerc/manual/index.asp

The Tylenol Case: https://www.biznews.com/thought-leaders/2013/11/15/five-key-lessons-from-tylenol-crisis

https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/23/your-money/IHT-tylenol-made-a-hero-of-johnson-johnson-the-recall-that-started.html

• What the heck is a covidtunist?
• Need for differentiation and authenticity
• Implications for vendors and organizations

Don't fall victim to the covidtunist.

Have examples of "covidtuning" or "covidtunists"? Share them with us on Twitter using the hashtag #covidtunist and tag us @PodcastIndigo

COVID-19 is kind of like getting hit by a bus. This time is stressful, chaotic, and anxiety-provoking. How you respond is based on a number of factors. In this episode we dive deep into sensemaking and leadership in light of current events. What is sensemaking? It is the action or process of making sense of or giving meaning to something, especially new developments and experiences.

• The collapse of sensemaking / a way in which organizations are fragile
• How to lead the charge and how individuals and organizations can support
• Emerging new tasks and roles for management due to COVID-19

Shout out to Cliff Scott who contributed greatly to our research and prep for this episode.

While #covid-19 (#coronavirus) has us all on lockdown, we are finding that many of us are struggling with the isolation of #socialdistancing. Whether we live alone or with family, the isolation of having to stay in one's own home and deal with all the stress and changes this virus has brought us is a tall task. So in this episode we take an #evidencebased look at how to keep your sanity while isolated.

• Humans are social
• Experiences with Military Deployments and training scenarios
• Guidance for behavior while in captivity--lessons from prisoners of war and the U.S. military

Scholars often cite naval aircraft carriers as prototypical examples of "high-reliability" organizations. Such organizations, they suggest, are able to engage daily with risky technologies in a remarkably safe manner because of the ways in which people interact, communicate, and adhere to common principles. In this episode we explore:

• What is a "high reliability organization?"
• What can "normal" organizations learn from aircraft carriers?
• Additional lessons from modern aircraft carriers that can be helpful.

First let us say this episode will leave many unsatisfied -- we can empathize with the desire for definitive answers, but in the real world of leadership and management you have to get comfortable with incomplete information and ambiguity. We discuss:

• What is science? How does it work? Misconceptions?

• When it works, what kind of knowledge does it provide?

• What is the nature of scientific explanation? How does the social organization of science contribute, if at all, to its success?

If you are a veteran-- this episode is for you. If you are not a veteran, you may still find interest in this episode-- particularly if you are hiring veterans. What we cover:

• Unrealistic transition preview
• Geographic inflexibility
• Sense of entitlement
• Knowledge and skills gap
• Additional tips and ideas for both transitioning veterans and employers who want to hire them

Additional info here.

Everyone wants to work less with more productivity, right? Many companies have experimented with alternative work schedules, flex hours, and reduced hours. In the war for talent it is certainly tempting to offer a four hour work week, providing a way for employees to achieve work life balance. Does it work? In this episode we discuss:

• History of the four day workweek and different types of work schedules
• Industry, profitability, ethics
• Implications for individuals, managers, execs and board members