Damage Control

Input: $ARGUMENTS

Step 1: Assess the Damage

Get a clear picture of what actually happened, not what might have happened or what you fear happened.

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT:
- What happened: [Factual description — no spin, no minimizing]
- When it happened: [Timeline]
- Who is affected: [List every party — direct and indirect]
- What's broken: [Relationships, trust, systems, finances, reputation, etc.]
- What's still intact: [What hasn't been damaged]
- Is it still getting worse: [Yes — go to Step 2 immediately / No — proceed normally]

Resist the urge to explain or defend. Assessment first, narrative later.

Step 2: Stop the Bleeding

Prevent further damage before attempting any repair. This is the highest priority.

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS (do NOW):

STOP: [What must stop immediately to prevent further harm]
- [Action 1]
- [Action 2]

CONTAIN: [How to prevent the damage from spreading]
- [Containment measure 1]
- [Containment measure 2]

SECURE: [What to protect that hasn't been affected yet]
- [Asset/relationship/system to protect]

Rules:

• Speed matters more than elegance
• Partial containment now beats perfect containment later
• If you’re unsure whether something will make it worse, err on the side of doing less

Step 3: Triage What Can Be Saved

Not everything is equally recoverable. Prioritize.

TRIAGE:

FULLY RECOVERABLE (act fast):
- [What can be restored to pre-damage state]
- [What action is needed and by when]

PARTIALLY RECOVERABLE (invest effort):
- [What can be partially restored]
- [Best realistic outcome]

LOST (accept and move on):
- [What cannot be recovered]
- [Cost of trying vs. accepting the loss]

Don’t waste resources trying to save what’s already gone. Redirect energy to what’s salvageable.

Step 4: Communicate to Affected Parties

Communication during damage control is not optional. Silence is interpreted as indifference or deception.

COMMUNICATION PLAN:

WHO needs to know (in order of urgency):
1. [Most affected party] — tell them [what], by [when]
2. [Second party] — tell them [what], by [when]
3. [Broader audience if applicable]

MESSAGE FRAMEWORK (for each party):
- What happened: [Facts only — no spin]
- What we're doing about it: [Specific actions taken]
- What this means for you: [Direct impact on them]
- What happens next: [Timeline and next steps]
- How to reach us: [Specific contact/channel]

RULES:
- Lead with facts, not apologies
- Don't promise what you can't deliver
- Acknowledge impact on them specifically
- One update with bad news beats three with vague reassurance
- Over-communicate on timeline — silence breeds anxiety

Step 5: Begin Recovery

With bleeding stopped and communication sent, start systematic repair.

RECOVERY PLAN:

PHASE 1 — STABILIZE (hours/days):
- [Action]: restore [what] by [when]
- [Action]: restore [what] by [when]

PHASE 2 — REPAIR (days/weeks):
- [Action]: fix [what] by [when]
- [Action]: rebuild [what] by [when]

PHASE 3 — STRENGTHEN (weeks/months):
- [Action]: improve [what] so this can't recur
- [Action]: rebuild trust/reputation through [what]

RESOURCES NEEDED: [People, money, time, tools]
DEPENDENCIES: [What must happen before what]
OWNER: [Who is responsible for each action]

Step 6: Capture Lessons

Don’t waste a crisis. Extract what it teaches while the memory is fresh.

LESSONS:

ROOT CAUSE: [Why this actually happened — not the surface event, the underlying cause]

WHAT WE MISSED:
- [Warning sign 1 that was ignored or unseen]
- [Warning sign 2]

WHAT WORKED in the response:
- [What went well during damage control]

WHAT FAILED in the response:
- [What made things worse or was too slow]

SYSTEMIC CHANGE NEEDED:
- [Process/system change to prevent recurrence]
- [Early warning system to catch this sooner next time]

PERSONAL LESSON:
- [What the person/team learned about themselves]

Timing Guide

Integration

Use with:

• /saf -> When damage involves safety concerns
• /efa -> When emotional distress accompanies the damage
• /rca -> For deep root cause analysis after stabilization
• /obv -> To catch obvious things being missed during crisis
• /obo -> To identify obstacles to recovery