he Larry is a framework for crisis management that uses the example of the television show "Curb Your Enthusiasm" to illustrate the key skills and qualities that are needed to respond effectively to a crisis. The Larry is based on the idea that crisis management, like improvisation, requires the ability to think on your feet, communicate effectively, and be flexible and adaptable. The Larry can be used to help continuity professionals explain their role to others and to prepare for a crisis.

Last week I hosted a training class for those brave souls that work with me in my organization’s continuity program. I like to selfishly use things that I enjoy to add color to the concepts that we teach in continuity. One of my tried-and-true examples for crisis management is to equate the management team to a kitchen in a Michelin-starred restaurant where the continuity professional is the sous chef - not in charge but is responsible for the orchestration of the operations.

This has served me well over the years but recently I began adding a more apt example to this.

I call it The Larry.

The Larry begins and ends with “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, HBO’s semi-improvised comedy show, and its creator Larry David. My example relies on an understanding of the inner workings of the show and its production. While the show does have an outline or general story idea for each episode, it is known for its unique approach to scripting and its use of improvisation. This process allows the show to create episodes that have a sense of controlled chaos and spontaneity, which are the tent poles for The Larry.

In "Curb Your Enthusiasm," the overall structure and main plot points of an episode are typically outlined in a detailed summary or treatment. This summary serves as a rough guide for the actors, providing them with an understanding of the scene's purpose and the direction of the story. This is equal to the all-hazard continuity plans that we create. However, the dialogue itself is mostly improvised, with the actors relying on their improvisational skills to create the lines and interactions in the moment. This improvisation is the key and what we as continuity professionals need to focus on.

The show benefits from the comedic talents of its cast, who are skilled at improvisation and working with one another's energy. Larry often sets the tone and direction of a scene through his own improvisations.

We are Larry. Do you see?!

In our world, setting the tone and direction should result in a smooth resumption of operations, but all of this is reliant on the right actors – another job that we will need to fill because an operation with ill-fitting actors will look bad and be cancelled.

Here are a few quick takeaways:

1. Both crisis management and improvisation require the ability to think on your feet and adapt to unexpected situations. Larry often finds himself in situations that he did not plan for. He must think quickly and come up with creative solutions to get himself out of trouble. This is like what governments or businesses face when a crisis occurs. They need to be able to respond quickly and effectively, even if they don't have a pre-planned response.

2. Both crisis management and improvisation require the ability to communicate effectively. Larry (YOU) often finds himself in situations where he needs to communicate effectively with others. He must be able to explain himself clearly and concisely, even when he is under pressure. This is exactly what you need to do when responding to a crisis. You need to be able to communicate clearly, even when the situation is complex or uncertain.

3. Both crisis management and improvisation require the ability to be flexible and adaptable. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is a show that is constantly evolving and Larry (YOU!!!!) is always coming up with new ideas and unexpected twists. This requires the cast and crew to be flexible and adaptable. They need to be able to change their plans as needed to accommodate the situation. Crises are often unpredictable, and you will need to be prepared to change plans as needed.

In conclusion, we all may not be bald geniuses like Larry, but we sure can act like it. Using his role in the production of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” can help us explain what we are trying to do in continuity and help people play their part.

Hopefully this will allow is to have a prettaaay, prettaaay, prettaaay good recovery.