Marketing, PR and communications agencies are often called upon to advise clients who are in the midst of a reputation crisis. Like the proverb about the shoemaker’s children who have no shoes, does your agency have its own crisis preparation plan?
The types of crises are pretty much the same no matter what type of business you run. Whether it’s…
- Cyber/hacking;
- Unethical behavior;
- Competitor threats;
- Activist investors;
- A natural disaster;
- Or old-fashioned human error;
… each type of crisis can impact an organization’s reputation and long-term viability.
Frankly, there aren’t many secrets to crisis planning.
Much like buying insurance, you have to look at the risks that your company faces. Crisis planning is a series of check lists and coordinating the PR Plan with operations, finance, IR, HR and legal. Each group has its own set of risks and responses.
The role for communications is to plan ahead.
Have a set of pre-approved templates for rapid response and communications to employees, customers, media, investors, regulators and other stakeholders. Templates save time when crisis time pressures cloud decision making.
After creating crisis plans and templates, the next most important step is to plan or participate in a drill to test the plan. The fire department doesn’t learn how to fight a blaze just by reading a manual. The department conducts training drills to create teamwork and find gaps in planning and preparation.
Not “If” But “When”
Why care about crisis preparedness?
As Warren Buffet says, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and only five minutes to ruin it.”
When you’re prepared for crisis, you can be responsive and even proactive, keeping your reputation intact.
40 Years of Experience
As a leading crisis communications firm, Yes& CommCore has 40 years of experience helping organizations be ready — prepared prior to a crisis — and working side-by-side both during and after a communications crisis.
We partner with our clients to ensure they are properly prepared before, supported during, and helped to repair damaged brands and reputations after a crisis. Our experience includes:
- Cyber-attack/Data Breach crisis communications
- Product tampering and recalls response
- Health risk communications
- Congressional investigations
- Plant closings
- Class action litigation
- Ethics issues
Business Insider Lists CommCore Among “Top DC Crisis Communications Firms to Call.”
Contact our Crisis Communications Trainers & Consultants
We are available and can put you in touch with the right person to help with your specific crisis communications challenge.
To schedule a PressureTest™ Demo or get answers quickly, call us at (202) 659-4177 or email info@CommCoreConsulting.com to contact our crisis communications firm today.