4 Lessons From Leading a Disaster Restoration Company Through Natural Disaster Season From natural disasters to leadership challenges: How BELFOR's Sheldon Yellen is redefining resilience and preparedness in disaster recovery.
By Sheldon Yellen Edited by Chelsea Brown
Key Takeaways
- The key to navigating any disaster or unexpected challenge in business lies in strategic foresight and adaptability.
- To ensure your business is responsive in times of crisis and better equipped for future uncertainties, it's important to anticipate communication gaps, integrate mental health support into your operations, refine your business model with technology and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
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In the face of an exceptionally active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, businesses of all kinds are reminded of the importance of resilience in leadership. With experts at The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting up to 25 named storms, including the recent Tropical Storm Francine on the Gulf Coast, the question becomes: How can entrepreneurs, even those outside of disaster recovery, prepare their businesses to weather any storm — literal or metaphorical?
The key to navigating any disaster, whether natural or business-related, lies in strategic foresight and adaptability — principles we've embraced at BELFOR over the years. While our work in disaster-struck areas like Florida and Georgia is crucial, the real lesson goes beyond just responding to crises. It's about being proactive: positioning resources effectively, building strong partnerships and staying agile in the face of unpredictable conditions. As leaders, we must plan for potential disruptions in our industries, ensuring we have the right tools and relationships in place to keep our businesses running smoothly when challenges arise.
Below are key lessons in leadership agility that every business leader can apply to ensure their organization is responsive in times of crisis and better equipped for future uncertainties.
Related: How to Lead and Manage Your Team During Times of Crisis
1. Anticipate communication gaps
In disaster recovery, communication isn't just a tool — it's a strategic differentiator that can set a company apart in high-stakes environments. While many leaders understand the importance of keeping teams informed, the real innovation lies in proactively identifying communication gaps. In 2022, miscommunication was found to cost U.S. businesses an astounding $1.2 trillion annually. Moreover, 43% of business leaders reported gaining new business due to strong communication practices, proving that clear communication can be a game-changer even in crisis situations.
Beyond the usual check-ins and updates, leaders should work hard to identify potential communication gaps by staying closely connected with their teams and maintaining clear, open channels of dialogue. This means regularly soliciting feedback, ensuring that information flows freely and accurately across all levels of the organization — from field teams to executives. By being vigilant and responsive to any signs of miscommunication, leaders can keep their teams not just aligned but prepared to make swift, informed decisions that drive the mission forward.
2. Integrate mental health support into your operations
In 2024, the landscape of work has evolved, bringing new challenges to employee mental health and well-being, especially in high-pressure fields like disaster recovery. With more than half of employees (52%) experiencing burnout due to job-related stress and 37% struggling to perform due to feeling overwhelmed, it's clear that traditional approaches to mental health support may no longer suffice.
In response, leading companies are adopting comprehensive well-being strategies that reflect the realities of today's workforce. This includes offering flexible work arrangements to accommodate the diverse needs of employees, integrating mental health days as standard practice and providing access to digital wellness resources like virtual therapy and meditation apps. 2024 has also seen a surge in the creation of psychologically safe environments where employees can openly discuss mental health without stigma. As mental health continues to be a critical factor in employee retention and productivity, forward-thinking companies are recognizing that well-being is not just a benefit — it's a business imperative.
Related: Preempt Crises by Aggressively Seeking Solutions Before Problems Occur
3. Refine your business model with technology
Today's advanced tools do more than streamline operations; they empower you to anticipate changes, make proactive decisions and reshape your business strategies. For example, at BELFOR, we continuously monitor weather and news, leveraging advanced forecasting tools and data analytics for precise risk assessments. We use drone technology and tools like the BELFOR Alert App and Matterport 3D scans to gather real-time data, enabling comprehensive evaluations and informed decision-making. These technologies redefine how we approach disaster recovery, turning data into actionable insights that guide our strategic responses.
Consider the implementation of real-time monitoring systems — these tools should be more than just reactive measures. Instead of merely responding to changes as they happen, use these technologies to anticipate potential disruptions and adapt your strategies accordingly. For instance, by analyzing real-time data, you can identify trends and patterns that might signal emerging risks or opportunities, allowing you to pivot quickly and make informed decisions that keep your organization ahead of the curve. Moreover, these systems can help you build a business model that is inherently flexible, one that evolves in tandem with shifting market conditions.
4. Foster a culture of continuous improvement
Continuous improvement is essential for any organization. At the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 11,000 employees are using continuous improvement practices, representing 83% of the agency, leading to significant process improvements such as reducing compliance times and backlogs by up to 96%. Conducting thorough debriefs after every major event to analyze what went well and what could be improved helps organizations learn from each experience and refine their strategies. Encouraging feedback from all levels of the organization allows you to capture a wide range of perspectives and insights and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement. At BELFOR, we view this as a commitment to growth and learning, making our teams stronger and more united for the next challenge.
Related: The CEO of a Disaster Restoration Company on How the Business Has Changed Over 40 Years
By implementing these practices, leaders can better position their organizations to withstand and overcome any challenges that arise, whether during a hurricane season or in any other crisis. Resilience in leadership is not just about responding to immediate threats; it's about fostering a culture of preparedness, adaptability and continuous improvement. One person CAN make a difference, and with the right preparation and mindset, we can all contribute to a safer and more resilient community.
