Sara Orellana
By Sara Orellana
The world has changed so much, and often not for the better. I don’t think the world has become more violent; I think we have just more become more aware. The shifts in the world have made me rethink a lot of issues, particularly personal safety.
As a female business owner, I am the face of the company and often out in public. I should feel safe walking into a man’s office, but I have found more and more, I don’t. I don’t believe men are out to prey on women; I think I am just more aware of the dangers. Simultaneously, I am aware of the danger men face when they work with women.
No matter how you identify, your safety, your staff’s safety and the safety of your clients must be your top priority. Below are a few tips to help you maintain safety and get work done.
• As often as possible, host meetings in public places. If you are meeting with a client, meet at a coffee shop. People are there to work or meet; they are not listening to your conversation. And it is typically easy to find a quiet corner.
• Lunch meetings are a great alternative. Everyone needs to eat lunch. Why not incorporate lunch into your meeting?
• Meet at a park. Many cities are offering free Wi-Fi in parks. Take advantage of a nice day and meet your client in a safe park where you are in unobstructed public view.
• Keep office doors open. If you are meeting in an office, keep office doors open, or install glass panels in the doors. Glass panels allow visibility without compromising confidentiality.
• When possible, ensure an extra person is in the room. Doctors’ exams usually include a nurse being present. Copy them. If you need to have a private meeting or conversation, have a third person present.
• Schedule meetings for work hours. As tempting as it is to meet after work, only schedule after-work meetings for groups. One-on-one meetings should happen between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Always let someone in the office know where you are meeting and with whom. Check in with someone regularly. If you don’t want to tell someone who you are meeting, where you are meeting and why, then ask yourself why you are meeting that person.
• When possible, send emails instead of meeting. More often than not, we meet just to meet. Respect everyone’s time and safety. Use email as much as possible.
• Make it a habit to ask clients if they are comfortable with meeting times and locations. That will open the door for healthy conversations on all sides.
Sara Orellana, MS, MPH is an independent entrepreneur who specializes in strategic planning, leadership, and grant writing. She can be reached at sara@3raptorconsulting.com.