1. The Fork in the Road “Expect the unexpected” Troy Phillips ©2010

2. Life is series of daily journeys… At School At Work At Home On Vacation

3. What’s your goal? Win a Race? Take a Family Vacation? Finish a Degree? Lose Weight? Go to the Moon? Take a 3 hour tour?

4. What do you need? Identify the critical things you need to be successful. –How will you get them? –What will you do if you can’t get everything you need? Let’s Check our list….

5. How Prepared are We? Exceedingly Intelligent and Talented Highly Educated Expertly Trained Well Practiced Superbly Equipped and Funded Forecast is Favorable How can we fail?

6. Step #1: Preparation = Anticipation Anticipate what you need –Make a checklist! Anticipate what may happen –Has anyone done this before? Anticipate how to prevent it? –Risk Mitigation Anticipate what you would do if it does? –Contingency Planning

7. What you need! ON THE ROAD Signs/Signals Maps/GPS/OnStar Passenger/Cell Phone Sense of Direction Police AT WORK Policies & Processes Peers/Mentors Support –Help Desk –HR Generalist –Buyer Systems Knowledge & Experience Gut

8. Risk Assessment The Elements –Description –Chance of Happening –Possible Consequences –Mitigating Factors –Action/Solution if needed Document it!

9. Step #2: Anticipation by Categorization Within your Control –Education & Training –Preparation & Planning Outside of your Control –Regulatory Changes –Unforeseen Failures What indicators will reveal something is wrong?

10. Categorization Metric RiskIn-ControlOut-Control Education Technology Time Contraints Staffing Experience

11. Step #3: Contingency Planning Plan a course of action for each category Identify any “go” / “no-go” points Risk Identification and Mitigation

12. Check your spare tire Develop a support system Know your Business Know your staff Know Yourself When you get a flat, it’s too late! Is it there? Does it have air? Do you know how to use the jack? Are the bolts frozen? Will it fit? Your car is different!

13. Are you ready? Bags are packed Destination Identified Route Plotted Tune-up complete Physically Ready Get Going!!!!

14. “It Happens” -Forrest Gump

16. Something or Someone gets in the way…

17. What are your “forks”? What are the obstacles that derail us?

18. You don’t even know you’re lost!

19. Step #4: Early Identification & Accurate Assessment Check your equipment Watch those indicators! Assess possible causes –"If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains—however improbable—must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes Be Thorough, but be quick!

20. What do they have in common? Negatives: –Unscheduled & Unplanned –Create more or “unnecessary” work –Delay or Prevent reaching the destination –May reveal other weaknesses Positives: –Opportunities for exercising your skill at improvising, adapting and overcoming obstacles!

21. The Typical Reaction: –Initial Denial: “Is this Happening?” –Shock: “OH NO!” –Denial: “This is not happening” –Anger: “Why is this happening to me?” –Bargaining: “If you get me out of this, I will…” –Acceptance: “What will I do about it?” Success depends on how quickly you get to Acceptance.

22. Step #5: Adapt the Plan and Execute Is there a plan to address this issue? –If not, is there one that’s close? What factors are assumed in the plan? –Are they the same? Any significant factor difference –Impacts or changes the plan What more do we know now that it happened?

23. Prepare to REACT Spontaneously Unintentional –Unplanned –Reactionary –Improvised Intentional –Planned –Practiced –Precise –Researched –Approved –Policy

24. Formulate your Action Plan Stay Calm Get the Whole Story Be or Become Knowledgeable Draw on Experience (not necessarily yours) Communicate Clearly Make the Decision!

25. Call for Help

26. Step #6: Time to Act!!

27. Actions have Consequences... Intended –Move Forward –Fix the issue –Solve the Problem Unintended –More Cost –More Time –More Grief!!!

28. Step #7: Reassess and Adapt Identify expectations Monitor progress Revise the Plan Revise the expectations Communicate!!!

29. What’s in your Scrapbook? Detours can make the trip memorable Reflect on your trips and decisions Chose your Reaction Learn from the experience!

30. “If you come to a Fork in the Road, TAKE IT!” -Yogi Berra