Leading in a Crisis: Confronting Violence in the Workplace
Workplace violence is the third-leading cause of death in the workplace in the United States. While it is not something anyone wants to think about or consider as a possibility in their place of work, it is a grim reality that organizational leaders must understand and prepare for.
Preparation takes several forms. It includes crisis communications training and planning on how to lead when your organization is in the midst of or has just experienced a violent incident. But of perhaps even greater importance is ensuring that your workforce receives training on what to do when confronted with a workplace violence incident be it an active shooter or some other violent threat or incident.
In the midst of a crisis, most organizations focus on response — when the fire is already burning. But what if I told you two-thirds of effective crisis management actually happens before a single incident occurs? I spoke with Katherine Schweit, a retired FBI special agent and active shooter expert, who emphasized that the real work starts long before the sirens go off. Policies, training, pre-written statements — all these are the groundwork that can make or break your crisis response. She shared a powerful example of a school secretary in Michigan who, in a split second, stopped an active shooter simply because she listened carefully, followed her training, and knew her safety protocols. Her instincts, her training — that’s what saved lives. It’s a reminder: preparedness isn’t just a checkbox. It’s a mindset. It’s about knowing what you’re going to do long before the crisis hits — because when seconds matter, good planning saves lives. Maybe that’s the point. Worth thinking about. Listen to the full conversation:
