Few business are prepared to handle a disaster of the magnitude of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, September 11, 2001. We should all take lessons from companies like Aon Corporation and Cantor Fitzgerald, headquartered in the World Trade Center, who were back to near normal levels of business within days. Their disaster plans couldn't have concieved of an airplane being flown into the building or the building collapsing, but since they had plans in effect, they were able to execute those plans and get back in business quickly.

The Business
I've written before about the need for disaster planning. These resources can help you prepare for a business emergency and deal with it successfully when it happens.

• Business Crisis Resources
• When the Unexpected Happens

The Employees
Equally important is the effect on your employees of a tragedy like the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. You have to help them deal with tragedy, not just those with global impact, but also the ones that effect them directly, like the loss of loved one, a house fire, or even something like being passed over for promotion.

• Preventing Workplace Violence
• Worker Depression Can Cost You Money

The Work/Life Balance
Since the September 11th attacks, there has been a renewed effort to achieve a balance between work and the rest of our lives.

• Work/Life Balance Resources
• "What Truly Matters"

From Other Guides
Many of the other Guides here on About.com have prepared articles that remember and commemorate the events of September 11th. These present the perspective of the individual Guide and the online community they serve. Here are some I like:

• When Terrorism Took to the Air
• September 11, 2001: Ground Zero
• Twin Towers and Pentagon Attacks Viewed From Space
• Visiting Lower Manhattan and Ground Zero now
• Teen Advice - post 9/11 racism in North America
• Celebrate Life: Workplace Remembrance of September 11

Manage This Issue
Disasters happen. Our job as managers is to keep our business running afterwards as smoothly as possible for the sake of our customers, our employees, our suppliers, and all our stakeholders. To do this we need to plan ahead of time, execute the plan when a disaster occurs, and remember that we are only human too.

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John Reh
Management Guide

Other Management Feature Articles