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After 3.5 years, this is my final few days in @foreignoffice Crisis Management Department. It's a bit of a blur but I think I've been involved in around 25 responses over my time. Every day this week I'll be adding a tip/insight on international crisis management as a THREAD.
No 1.When a crisis breaks and you don't know what to do:
Stop
Find a whiteboard and pens
Gather your core team
set some objectives,
work out a clear structure with defined roles and responsibilities
work out a rhythm for the day
Then everything will be easier
StopFind a whiteboard and pens
Gather your core team
set some objectives,work out a clear structure with defined roles and responsibilities work out a rhythm for the dayThen everything will be easier
No 2. Collaborate: widely and deeply 
Which partners do you need to succeed in your crisis response? Bring them into your meetings, give them space in your ops centre, ensure they are working directly with your teams.
Not just HMG depts, but other govts, business, NGOs etc.
Which partners do you need to succeed in your crisis response? Bring them into your meetings, give them space in your ops centre, ensure they are working directly with your teams.
Not just HMG depts, but other govts, business, NGOs etc.
No 3. Ask yourself how will it work in practice? 
Crisis work is intensely practical. Work through your plan, map out what you need for success. Who is doing what? What are the blockages? Get into detail.
@ukinsouthafrica did this successfully during recent repatriations
Crisis work is intensely practical. Work through your plan, map out what you need for success. Who is doing what? What are the blockages? Get into detail.
@ukinsouthafrica did this successfully during recent repatriations
No 4: Know your own and your organisation's biases (list in link) and be open to challenge.
It's too easy to plan based on what you want to happen rather than the reasonable worst case scenario. Surround yourself with those who will challenge assumptions. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases
It's too easy to plan based on what you want to happen rather than the reasonable worst case scenario. Surround yourself with those who will challenge assumptions. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases
No 5: It's really all about the people.
An effective crisis response requires a happy, well rested team. Don't let anyone work non-stop, break the day into manageable shifts. If people are working out of hours, feed them and help them get safely to the office. Reward resilience.
An effective crisis response requires a happy, well rested team. Don't let anyone work non-stop, break the day into manageable shifts. If people are working out of hours, feed them and help them get safely to the office. Reward resilience.
A few final thoughts. I'd like to pay tribute to the teams overseas at the sharp end of our crisis response. They are have been absolute heroes in the past few months. Nothing would be possible without them.
I'd also like to recognise all partners across government that work together on an overseas crisis. Amazing collaboration from @UKJFHQ @DefenceHQ @DFID_UK @DHSCgovuk @PHE_uk @cabinetofficeuk @UK_CAA @mhclg @metoffice #SAGE @CMO_England @uksciencechief @BritGeoSurvey to name a few
A few people have asked 'what next?' #personalnews tweet to follow in due course! @aliciakearns @deafielisa @PSNeurodiverse
