Crisis Management
- Something goes wrong
- The employees involved are reluctant to inform management for fear of reprisals, or management is informed of the crisis but prefers not to go public in hopes that no one will learn of it.
- But the media, both traditional and social, do find out.
- Calls from reporters, bloggers, and influencers go unanswered.
- But regulatory bodies, government departments, unions, customers, suppliers, activists, and others who may be adversely affected do speak out, and their comments are harsh and damning.
- The resulting coverage is one-sided and paints the organization as the villain, a characterization that is solidified when the media also note that calls to the organization went unanswered.
- Management now decides to issue countering statements.
- These will be reported but so will the counter claims by those attacking you, thus embroiling the organization in a defensive spiral that only reinforces newly implanted negative perceptions of the organization.
- The crisis has now become a disaster.
We help organizations navigate situations that threaten operations, financial stabillity, reputations, and long-term viability. Our experience spans fatal industrial accidents; severe business setbacks; eroding public confidence and trust; intense internal conflict; burdensome and ineffective government regulations; and periods of profound cultural, economic, and political upheaval.
A crisis is any situation that threatens an organization’s stability, credibility, or ability to achieve its objectives. Such situations can emerge unexpectedly, escalate rapidly, or develop from seemingly manageable issues. No organization is entirely immune to the possibility of a crisis.
Crises vary in severity, depending on their potential consequences. Yet two risks are paramount: the damage the crisis itself may inflict on the organization, and the additional harm that can result from a failure to communicate promptly, transparently, and credibly.
Consider a typical scenario:
The purpose of crisis communications is to prevent such disasters from occurring.
When unforeseen challenges strike, preparation is everything. Schedule a complimentary crisis-strategy consultation with Ed Shiller to safeguard your reputation.
(See Blog: Crisis Management Planniing)
When unforeseen challenges strike, preparation is everything. Schedule a complimentary crisis-strategy consultation with Ed Shiller to safeguard your reputation.
(See Blog: Crisis Management Planniing)