Proactive Presence: Building Organizational Resilience Before Crisis Hits

Written By Kristin Onderdonk

The phone rang. On one end, a young man's voice trembled with desperation. On the other, an intake counselor felt their heart sink as they realized: the system's constraints wouldn't allow them to help. Insurance restrictions. Paperwork barriers. Administrative dead ends.

But instead of reciting policy or offering empty platitudes, the counselor made a choice that would alter the course of a life: to reach beyond themselves and connect with someone who might help.

When Jo Venturelli, Director of Business & Professional Development at Seafield Center, received that call from the new intake counselor about the young man in crisis, she didn't just hear issues—she listened with her entire being. As the conversation unfolded, Jo drew from her resiliency and activated calm management. She connected with the client, then parents, guided them through emergency intervention steps, and created pathways where moments before, bureaucratic walls had stood.

What made the difference wasn't a new policy or additional funding—it was simply a human being willing to say "I need help," followed by another human showing up with complete, receptive presence.

This is what works in our world when systems fail: people brave enough to acknowledge their limitations and reach beyond them for the resiliency that another in the field or system has already created for the "team." Imagine the perspective of "being on the same team" and taking time to "self-train" as well as come together when it's go time and someone on the field—either side, any game, any player—starts to falter. Managing calm is a lot gentler on the players (all teams) than crisis management.

The Courage to Say "I Need Help" Begins Within

This hopeful story came through during Episode 7 of our STOP & FLOW w/K.O. podcast which aired 2/6/25. When Jo shared with me about her colleague who reached out when they couldn't help, I knew it was worth revisiting. The simple act of professional vulnerability—acknowledging limitations rather than pushing through them—saved a young man's life. 

Worthy of deeper reflection? Where does courage come from? What kind of resilience is needed? 

The capacity to ask for help in crisis moments isn't built overnight. It's cultivated through a daily practice of Self-awareness and Self-reflection. 

What becomes clear through Jo's example is that the ability to recognize when we need support doesn't only magically appear in emergencies. Rather, it's a capacity many are finding needs strengthening through consistent wellness practices—something Jo embodies. She’s sharing her magic with many. And we each can. 

Cultivating Presence Before Crisis Strikes

Jo's commitment to wellbeing extends beyond her personal practices. Last week, Jo invited me to lead a virtual workshop where executives and staff at every level of their multi-center agency spent 50 minutes in STOP & FLOW. While phone lines may have continued ringing somewhere in the building, the organization made a powerful choice: to prioritize the inner resources that make meaningful response possible.

These moments of collective centering aren't luxuries—they're essential practices that build the capacity for authentic presence when it matters most. Through guided meditation, movement, and reflection, staff members reconnected with the purpose behind their work and replenished the emotional reserves needed to navigate challenging situations.

The message conveyed through these collective practices is powerful: taking time to ground ourselves isn't avoiding responsibilities—it's ensuring we can meet them with our full humanity intact.

Resiliency Management vs. Crisis Management: A Paradigm Shift

The difference between organizations that thrive under pressure and those that fracture reveals itself in how they approach challenges—before they arrive. Here are three fundamental differences between resiliency management and crisis management:

1. Communication: Calm Compassion vs. Reactive Urgency

  • Resiliency Management: Practices hearing and speaking with calm compassion and clarity. Team members regularly practice authentic communication in low-stress situations, creating neural pathways of thoughtful response that remain accessible even under pressure.

  • Crisis Management: Relies on high-alert, adrenaline-fueled communication. Messages become shortened, often misinterpreted, and tinged with panic. The focus becomes the immediate fire rather than the overall wellbeing of those involved.

2. Somatic Awareness: Embodied Wisdom vs. Disconnected Reaction

  • Resiliency Management: Moves somatically, spending time in the body feeling what calm response is. The STOP & FLOW session Jo arranged wasn't just mental relaxation—it was somatic training, teaching staff to identify tension patterns and release them before they escalate.

  • Crisis Management: Operates from neck-up thinking, disconnected from bodily wisdom. Physical signs of stress accumulate unnoticed until they manifest as illness, burnout, or emotional outbursts. The body becomes a neglected resource rather than a trusted compass.

3. Systems Perspective: Cyclical Wholeness vs. Linear Firefighting

  • Resiliency Management: Builds upon collective energy and resources to absorb or redistribute pressure as systems naturally expand and contract. When Jo created pathways for the young man in crisis, she was strengthening the network that supports future needs.

  • Crisis Management: Fixates on putting out fires one by one, often creating new problems in the process. Resources become increasingly depleted with each emergency, creating a downward spiral of diminishing returns.

The Power of Connection and Self-Care

What's remarkable about Jo's leadership is how her personal wellness practices ripple outward through the organization. By prioritizing her own need for grounding, reflection, and community, she creates permission for others to do the same.

"In my role now, what I do, my whole job is to connect," Jo explained. These connections—to clients, professionals, and families—create the web of support that makes recovery possible. She once connected a struggling union worker with a specialized recovery group miles from his home, creating a bridge to "his people" that wouldn't have existed without someone willing to reach beyond conventional boundaries.

When an entire treatment center takes time for a STOP & FLOW session, they're making a powerful statement: our capacity to help others depends directly on our willingness to nurture ourselves. This isn't self-indulgence—it's the foundation of sustainable care.

The wisdom emerging from this approach is clear: the phones will always ring, but who we are when we answer them makes all the difference.

Questions for Reflection

  • Where in your life might you be hesitating to ask for support?

  • What daily practices help you stay grounded and present?

  • How can you create space for self-care while meeting your responsibilities to others?

  • When have you witnessed the power of connection in your own healing journey?

  • How might acknowledging limitations actually expand your capacity to help others?

Let's Make It Happen Together

If Jo's story has inspired you to make a difference in your community or with your loved ones, here are some ways to get involved:

Kristin Onderdonk
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