Why should you promote the adoption and use of best practices?

Tell, Teach, Involve

Training and Learning Techniques for Emergency Notification and Incident Notification Personnel

“Tell me and I forget, teach me, and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

– Benjamin Franklin

Why should you promote the adoption and use of best practices? At a high level, the University of Kansas Community Tool Box answers this question.

1. “Employing a method or program that’s been tested and found successful increases the chances that you’ll accomplish your goals, and that life will, therefore, be better for the folks who participate.”

The process of discovering “what works” can be time-consuming and expensive. With emergency communication, it could also result in personal harm, property loss, and brand and reputation damage. When you use and promote practices that have been tested, you can reduce the trial and error cycles.

2. “Using a recognized best practice makes it easier to justify the work.”

A best practice provides an acceptable answer when management or the community asks, “Why did you do that?” There is always the risk of a problem or glitch developing. In your communication plan or standard operating procedures, highlight what best practices are being implemented. This both communicates why an action will be taken and the action’s goal.

3. “Using recognized best practices can bolster the credibility of an organization.”

During the communication of notification plans to your stakeholders and communities, describing the best practices that were followed can help maintain your institution’s credibility and reputation. Doing so illustrates that you are using a tested procedure and did the research to show reasonable care for your stakeholders or community.

4. “The originators of the practice are known, and might be available to consult on how best to implement it.”

You should be able to question and seek help from the provider of the best practices. For example, at Everbridge, best practices can be reviewed with your implementers and account managers. Sales engineers can provide a customized training engagement to describe and help you implement best practices. Consultants in other areas can also provide specialized help with best practices recommended by FEMA, CDC, or the Department of Homeland Security.

5. “Most important – and most obvious – you know that best practices work.”

When you talk to the best practices provider, a key question is, “How do you know that this is a best practice?” You should feel confident that this provider has researched the practice and knows that it leads to success.

Adopt best practices for your organization’s notification system to minimize risk and prevent communication failures in emergencies.