In Business and Life, Learn to Look for the Warning Signs

I once had a law school professor who said there’s no violent crime that happens without warning. If you think about it, there’s always a sign. Sometimes, we might observe the red flags of danger but not listen or react to them. If we don’t pay attention, we miss the warnings and might not take action to stop the violence from taking place.

When I was young and growing up in Argentina during a military dictatorship, my family and I were in constant danger. My father was an influential businessman and his views differed from the miliary. We lived under constant threat of being kidnapped or murdered — and only the engrained situational awareness we were taught kept us from narrowly escaping instances of both.

Later in life, when I had three children of my own, I often tested their situational awareness. When we’d walk through a crowd, I’d ask them to quickly describe an individual. I taught them how to absorb the details in a room and notice signs of something being astray. A person with a winter coat on during summer, for example, could be a red flag. It would be considered something outside of a pattern. Or spotting an individual whom you’ve already seen twice before during that week could be a sign of danger. Why are you seeing them for the third time?

Even today, just as I did during my early years, I find it highly important to rapidly absorb a setting and notice anything out of place. In all areas of my life, it could make a big difference. It could mean success over failure, escape over capture, or life over death.

In the case of a crisis, if you’re aware of the situation, you can make faster decisions. If something makes you uncomfortable, you should act on it. You may be able to gain an advantage by being one step ahead of those who are distracted or unfocused.

I’ve found that such awareness skills transfer into corporate America, where spotting the small details that most overlook can make a big difference in a deal. Honing your situational awareness can prepare you to:

1. Notice details.
   Once when I was young, while our family was staying at our weekend home in rural Argentina, my sister, Valeria, saw something that was out of pattern. We had guards around the perimeter of our property, but Valeria saw a shadow outside a large bay window. This was much closer than the guards usually were stationed. Indeed, we were being watched, and our early departure actually saved us. Just minutes after we made our hasty departure, 16 gunmen burst into the house. The group had been watching us, just as my sister noticed. They hurt some of the staff who worked for us and destroyed everything inside the house.
2. Formulate a plan. 
   Anticipating a difficult situation I might face, I make a list of the actions I’d take. This simple exercise empowers me. It helps me to clarify my thoughts so that I can avoid making fast, irrational decisions. The same is true when leading in a crisis. You want to be decisive, not impulsive. You must think through all the scenarios ahead of time. You need to know how you’ll respond to questions you might be asked. Creating a plan will help prepare you to make the right decisions if something does happen. In addition, it’s important to have conversations with your team about carrying out the plan. Train and prepare your team for the unexpected. That way, if something does occur, everyone will be able to act confidently.
3. Take action.
   The most amazing leaders I’ve come across are the ones who can assess a situation and make the right decision while staying levelheaded. Their awareness can help them assess a tense situation that’s rapidly changing and take decisive action — even when they don’t have all the information in hand. By contrast, if you freeze and don’t move, you increase your risk. Therefore, moving is critical, and by being aware of the surroundings, leaders are better equipped when they must take action.
4. Rely on intuition. 
   Whenever you sense that something is off, lean into what your intuition is telling you. Listening to your intuition and staying calm enables you to readily assess the situation. In an investigation, for example, you might listen to someone being interviewed and sense that the facts don’t add up. Follow your hunch and research further to discover whether the person’s story matches the evidence. You can then use this new information to make a more informed decision.

Being surprised is not a good thing, no matter the situation. If you learn to pick up on details and notice the signs, you’ll be able to investigate a situation before it gets out of control.

Written by Fabiana Lacerca-Allen.
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