Day 3, Learn more about your organization

You hopefully did research on the company before joining it or taking the position. Even if you’ve been around awhile and just moved “down the hall”, you need to gather a new perspective about the size, shape and nature of your organization. Don’t assume you know – you’re in a new position. Items to consider: Organizational Charts If the company has not been using these, sketch out and make your own. You need a map of where you are and who has responsibility for what. Charts like these have fallen out of favor with many companies. However, try to keep one up to date for your own purposes. We may touch on Social Networking Chart's later. Company Information Develop basic information on company locations, managers, number of employees, number of vehicles and types, specific processes/services/activities, labor/management relations, etc. Do you have the latest annual financial report? What are the exposures to loss that you need to be addressing? You need the full details about the organization. Add information on losses, loss rates, compliance, and insurance issues to begin the process of continuously building a clear picture of the scope and needs of the organization. Industry issues Refresh yourself on specific industry issues and problems:

• Locate Industry Association web sites – what’s going on in your industry?
• Review, learn and understand the jargon of the organization – Listen intently, are you speaking the same “business” language as management or supervisors or the employees? Each has a different perspective of the company and you have to learn multiple business languages. As example, do you speak “Finance"? "Lean Six Sigma”? "Union"? What are the languages spoken?
• Based on what you've found, learn the tools, materials and equipment in use and begin specific research on risks and potential hazards.

Day 3 Summary Learn as much as possible about your organization and its industry. Discussed by Nathan Crutchfield, Crutchfield Consulting LLC For ohbytheway.biz Nathan Crutchfield N_crutch@comcast.net