In this blog, Philip West explores the COVID19 pandemic beyond hindsight. He also shares his COVID Timeline with you.
In our last blog, we wrote about what we would have done differently in preparing for the COVID crisis if we had the hindsight we now have. Here we explore the COVID pandemic beyond hindsight. We also offer your our unique COVID Timeline – absolutely free.
There is another aspect of hindsight that can come back to haunt us if we are not careful. It centres around decisions we make whilst dealing with the crisis. Then subsequent criticism for making what now appears to be such an unwise choice.
COVID Pandemic beyond hindsight everyone’s a critic
Of course, it is because our critics are using hindsight to attack us. If you run a small business, this criticism may only be a comment from a partner. In government, where all decisions are at a high strategic level, the criticisms will come from everywhere. The opposition, the press, political commentators and of course voters.
There are many examples where moderate-sized organisations have been pulled apart by customers or shareholders for adopting a particular course of action in a crisis that has proven to be counterproductive. Then there is the public sector where officials in roles such as emergency planners and incident managers are open to condemnation when things go wrong. Often because the decision was made when the information to hand was different from what is known today.
Don’t worry, there is a way of protecting yourself.
In my days as a Police Inspector (teaching senior officers how to command at major incidents and events), one of the most poignant lessons was in decision making and logging those decisions. If recorded properly, a decision log can protect you against post-incident criticism and even post-incident litigation. Remember, you must do it appropriately. You need to record the information you know at the time of the decision.
This is most important as this is the aspect that will change with hindsight and can be used against you. After this record any known threats or risks, any policies or procedures that could affect your decision and finally the options you have; with this recorded add which option you have chosen and why. Often, given a range of options, there is not a wrong decision. The only mistake is making no decision, even if the decision is to do nothing, which must also be recorded.
The COVID Timeline
Since COVID began I have been maintaining a COVID timeline. The idea being that if you have made an organisational decision based on the evolving pandemic, but did not record the information you knew (or only recorded part of it), you can look back at what was happening on the day you made the decision. In terms of reviewing your practice with hindsight, the timeline will be invaluable. We are providing the timeline as an aid for you for when you are suddenly faced with the question, “why did you do that”? As discussed, our old friend hindsight will make an otherwise wise decision look stupid.
The timeline is divided into global developments through the WHO, domestic developments through a health information perspective and a domestic media update. I am about to add a global media perspective as well.
Each day is listed and alongside is what was happening and what was known. I am maintaining this voluntarily as my contribution to fighting the pandemic as I know it will prove valuable when we come to the debrief and lessons learned.
Get your copy of the COVID Timeline
It has been made available to members of the Emergency Planning Society, and it is also available to any business or organisation who wishes to have access. Contact us to request a copy.
