Summary In this episode, host Steve Kuhr is joined by three guests to discuss the importance of exercises in crisis management. The guests include Rob Burton, the CEO of prepared X and ICMC, Tod Langley, the co-founder and CEO of Crisis Response Leader Training, and Adam Montella, a crisis manager and emergency manager and SVP at SummitET. They discuss the different types of exercises, such as tabletops, functional exercises, and full-scale exercises, and the importance of continuous improvement and taking action based on the lessons learned. They also highlight the challenges of engaging senior leaders and stakeholders in the exercise process and the need for a formalized crisis management team in organizations. The conversation focused on the use of exercises in crisis management and the role of technology in enhancing these exercises. The participants discussed the importance of understanding the consequences and impacts of decisions, as well as the need for executives to be involved in the recovery process. They also highlighted the prevalence of cyber events and the need for organizations to be prepared for them. The conversation touched on the use of technology, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, in conducting exercises, but emphasized the importance of human expertise and emotional intelligence in guiding the exercise process. Overall, the participants emphasized the value of exercises in improving preparedness and the need for a combination of technology and human facilitation in conducting effective exercises. Takeaways Exercises are a crucial component of crisis management and can range from tabletop discussions to full-scale simulations. Continuous improvement is essential in exercises, and organizations should take action based on the lessons learned. Engaging senior leaders and stakeholders in the exercise process can be challenging, but it is crucial for effective crisis management. Having a formalized crisis management team is important for organizations to effectively respond to crises and disasters. Understanding the consequences and impacts of decisions is crucial in crisis management. Executives need to be involved in the recovery process and understand the importance of the first 10 minutes and the subsequent 12 to 24 hours in determining the outcome of a crisis. Cyber events are prevalent and organizations need to be prepared for them. Technology, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, can enhance exercises, but human expertise and emotional intelligence are still essential in guiding the exercise process. Exercises are valuable in improving preparedness and organizations should strive for a combination of technology and human facilitation in conducting effective exercises. Contact Information Rob Burton https://www.linkedin.com/in/robburton9/ Tod Langley https://www.linkedin.com/in/tod-langley-ceo-80103654/ Adam Montella https://www.linkedin.com/in/disasterguy/