This summer I had the honor of celebrating my coworker Ellen and her husband Gustavo’s nuptials. It was a picture-perfect day, smiles, love and happiness surrounded us all.
About halfway through dinner, right as the groom was gaining our attention for a cute game of who said it best, suddenly the fire alarm went off—and no one moved. We all sort of looked at each other then at the bide and groom. There was a rumor that a fire had started in the kitchen, but even after hearing that, I just sat there. Was I frozen in panic? Did I not see, hear, or smell anything alarming? Maybe I was just following the crowd. No one else moved, and I didn’t want to be “that person” who panicked and ran out. No one was ushering us toward the exits, and honestly, I had no idea who was in charge.
Eventually, people began to trickle out. We were all on the second floor, and some people slowly made their way to the wooden deck outside (which, in hindsight, was probably not the safest place to gather—standing on flammable wood during a fire alarm!). Others, me included, went out through the lobby. I saw a mother and her elderly mom waiting for the elevator, which might have seemed safer for them than stairs, but if there really had been a fire, aren’t elevators a no-go?
Once we were all outside on what turned out to be a gorgeous night, people started to mingle, chit-chat, and even snap some photos with the fire trucks as a backdrop. It almost became a bonus memory for the scrapbook. Thankfully, it was a false alarm, and eventually we were allowed back in to continue celebrating.
What really stuck with me was this: Who was (or should have been) in charge? Do staff practice for these kinds of situations? Are we, as a society, just numb to alarms now? Was there even a clear plan for getting everyone out?
It made me think about how this translates to the workplace. In school, we have a leader (our teacher) and regular drills—it’s “drilled” into us to act fast, stay orderly, and follow instructions. But what happens in the workplace? Who leads? How do we prepare?
If you’re someone who manages a workplace, here’s your nudge: take the next steps to make sure your team is ready. Review your emergency plans. Schedule a drill. Make sure everyone knows the exits, the meeting points, and—maybe most importantly—who’s in charge if something goes wrong. Preparing today isn’t just about checking a box; it’s about making sure panic doesn’t take over if the unexpected happens. A little effort now can prevent confusion, or even tragedy, later. Let’s make sure no one is left guessing.