I just read the news about the murder of the Assistant DA of Kaufman County. Tragic, tragic news and they are still on the hunt for the killer(s). What must his family and friends and co-workers be going through right now? Why was he targeted? Is his family safe? Is his workplace safe?
When I read news of this nature, so many thoughts and ideas rush into my head. First, the obvious sadness and sympathy for the friends and family of the victim. But more and more, the quick second thought is - how safe are we when we think we are safe? I don't think we would like the answer if we could get inside the mind of somebody that was out to do us harm. They would stop at nothing. So what do we do?
I'm not proposing any answers or solutions. As I sit here at my work desk, I wonder what could happen if somebody wanted to harm me or, say, the person in the office next to me. Does our company have a plan? Do we have workplace security measures in place? Evacuation or lockdown plans? As a member of senior management, I can tell you we don't have anything formal put into place. But I will say, that we will. Very soon. There really isn't time to waste.
I'm attending a Busines Summit on February 21 on workplace violence. And there are going to be speakers talking about this very subject and providing a workplace toolkit that can be implemented immediately. As leaders of our companies, are we ready for the worst? If something should happen at your company, would you be able to say that you were prepared and did the best you could? If you are interested in the seminar that I am attending, please let me know. It's free. I'd be happy to pass along the information. You never know.