There are several key elements to have implemented in preparation phase in order to help mitigate any potential problems that may hinder ones ability to handle an incident. For the sake of brevity, the following should be performed:
Policy a policy provides a written set of principles, rules, or practices within an Organization.

Response Plan/Strategy after establishing organizational policies, now it is time to create a plan/strategy to handle incidents. This would include the creation of a backup plan.
Communication having a communication plan is necessary, due to the fact that it may be necessary to contact specific individuals during an incident.
Documentation it is extremely beneficial to stress that this element is particularly necessary and can be a substantial life saver when it comes to incident response.
References: https://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/incident/incident-handlers-handbook-33901