Blindsided: A Manager's Guide to Catastrophic Incidents in the Workplace [Hardcover]

Bruce T. Blythe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 2002

The world-renowned crisis consultant offers a comprehensive blueprint to guiding a company through the aftermath of a disaster

The tragic events of September 11, 2001, put businesses nationwide on alert: They now know they need to prepare for catastrophes. Bruce T. Blythe, a leading consultant on corporate crises, offers managers a step-by-step guide to a subject that has intimidated all too many managers, causing them to postpone such preparation indefinitely.

Blythe guides the reader through a series of worst-case scenarios, from a shooting rampage to a flash flood to a terrorist attack, offering handy checklists and field-proven action tests for quick results. He instructs managers and corporate executives on how best to prepare their teams for a crisis and how to deal with customers, employees, and the media in its aftermath. He explains tactics and preemptive measures that ensure:

* a quick return to work
* effective press management
* better morale
* fewer lawsuits down the line

Blindsided does more than secure the structure of a business. It shows you how to rebuild the spirit of your employees, so that your business can come back stronger than before.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Crisis Management International often gets the first phone call from companies that have experienced disaster, and has helped 150 firms recover after September 11. CMI's founder and CEO, Bruce T. Blythe, has written Blindsided: A Manager's Guide to Catastrophic Incidents in the Workplace, a guide to securing a business' structure and rebuilding employees' spirits in times of trouble. The thorough and timely book is divided in two parts: response and preparedness. Since last year's terrorist attacks, "the possibilities for crisis in the workplace are more ominous and far more real," Blythe says. His book will be a boon to leaders, offering field-tested approaches, development plans and reference tips.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

Blindsided is must reading for every manager and executive of every organization and institution in America. -- Ian Mitroff, The Harold Quinton Dispatched Professor of Business Policy at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, and author of The Essential Guide to Managing Corporate Crises

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover; First Edition edition (August 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591840007
• ISBN-13: 978-1591840008
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,005,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blindsided - Easier Than You Think, January 13, 2003

By 

Michael Kelley (Parkersburg, WV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blindsided: A Manager's Guide to Catastrophic Incidents in the Workplace (Hardcover)

Disaster recovery planning is traditionally focused on finding an alternative worksite, getting the necessary computer systems back up and running and giving employees the equipment they need to get back to work. Unfortunately, the employees themselves have often been overlooked or treated like any other resource necessary to get the job done. It generally takes an actual crisis to expose this falicy and point out to management and disaster recovery planners how very different the human element really is. This book is by far the best "How To Do It" book to come out in years on this most important of issues in disaster recovery planning and crisis management. It is laid out in a logical and progressive manner and leaves no stone unturned in addressing the most important issues of how do we get the people back to work. No tricks here, no management prospective, just genuine concern for the physical, mental, and emotional well- being of our fellow human beings. This is a must-read if you're serious about doing a complete job in the area of disaster recovery planning and crisis management.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and Insightful, June 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Blindsided: A Manager's Guide to Catastrophic Incidents in the Workplace (Hardcover)

This is a terrific book that will help anyone in a management position better prepare for a crisis. I believe it is the best book I have read on the subject - most tend to be dry and technical, but this was actually hard to put down. The combination of advice from actual crisis Mr. Blythe has responded to along with a systematic approach to preparing for a crisis before it happens is both practical and insightful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Boon For Leaders, September 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Blindsided: A Manager's Guide to Catastrophic Incidents in the Workplace (Hardcover)

Every manager everywhere in the world should read this book. It provides necessary information for every employee and how to handle every possible situation.