Putting pen to paper
If you’ve ever tried to write anything, you probably know the hardest part is starting. It doesn’t matter if it was a paper for school or a personal note, we all seem to stumble, fumble, hem and haw to get words on paper. That cursor that seems to accuse with its endless blinking at the top of a screen or that broad expanse of paper with absolutely nothing on it? It can feel intimidating. What if I don’t get it right? There is a much more important question to ask – one that needs to replace “What if I don’t get it right?”:
What if I don’t get it done?
Well, some possible answers are:
- Our company won’t have a plan.
- Our company won’t be able to recover from a disaster.
- My team won’t know what to do.
- I won’t get a good annual review if I miss this target.
Right now you’re probably thinking, “Great, I know that already. But how?”
I’m glad you asked.
30 minutes a week
We all spend time fiddling around on stuff that isn’t really productive. Often, we do this to avoid unpleasant or difficult tasks. We also spend a lot of time managing email in ways that are really inefficient. Email tends to rise to the top in importance because it seems it’s always there, right in your face, and the most recent emails tend to seem the most important. Most of the time, they’re not. Replace the first 30 minutes of your workday – just ONE day a week – with plan writing. That’s it. Really.
Starting leads to progress
“But I don’t know how to start.” That’s okay. That’s why we have resources all around to help us. KingsBridge has online resources that are free to help you write your plan. KingsBridge even has free software to walk you through writing your plan. Use these. Even before you check them out, start with two basic questions:
- What have I been asked to do?
- What do I already know?
Depending on your role, your company, and the industry you’re in, the answer to the first question can vary widely. I bet the basic answer is still “write a plan.” Start with that and then keep track of the specific requirements that have been asked of you / the plan (for example: pass an audit, provide a document to a prospective client outlining your Business Continuity Plan (BCP), a list of tasks for recovery team members to complete during a disaster).
Next, identify what you already know. What could that be? Well, maybe it’s an old plan that is still partly relevant. It might be a Threat Risk Assessment (TRA) that will be the basis for the plan you write. Whatever it is, write down what you know. From that you’ll be able to see more clearly any gaps that exist. These gaps will need to be addressed, but now you have some direction.
The point is that ANY plan is better than NO plan.
Progress is painful
While that’s true, it is equally true that progress puts you ahead of the competition. Progress gets you closer to the plan your company needs. Progress moves your career in the direction you want it to go.
This blog post isn’t perfect, but something is always better than nothing. Your BCP is the same.
From starting to getting it done
- Spend 30 minutes a week.
- What am I supposed to accomplish?
- What do I know that gives me a starting point?
- Any plan is better than none.
- Make progress.
For more thoughts on this topic, read here. Thanks for “tuning in.”
About KingsBridge
KingsBridgeBCP offers businesses of all sizes BCP Software Solutions and industry know how based on best practices. From a FREE Edition to a Platinum Edition there is a Shield for everyone. Our software packages meet the wide range of our customers’ needs, ensuring we deliver the best value in every project. To learn more about KingsBridge click here.
