WHAT IS CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS?
Crisis communications is a specialized field that helps organizations and individuals resolve significant business disruptions, reputational risks and mission-critical challenges. Often these situations arise suddenly and lack clarity, making good decisions and communication with key stakeholders difficult. Crisis communication experts, however, draw on a broad range of theory, experience and intuition to help business owners, attorneys and individuals take command and control.
The truth is crisis communications is a muscle that all businesses must train in order to build and maintain a competitive advantage.
There are lots of misconception about crisis communication. First, many are unsure when crisis communications expertise is truly needed. Many will wait until their business experiences either a literal or figurative fire to seek crisis communications counsel. Others are unsure about who plays the role of a crisis communications counselor – is it a management consultant, attorney, marketing professional or someone else who should take the lead? And some fail to recognize the financial value of their
reputation.
The truth is crisis communications is a muscle that all businesses must train in order to build and maintain a competitive advantage. Leading organizations engage in proactive crisis management; that is, the continuous identification of issues in their business that could cause significant disruption, financial or reputational risk. They address those issues in real-time, across business functions, with the support of a crisis communications professional to ensure strategic alignment and to uphold internal and external stakeholder relationships. If and when a crisis occurs without warning, these organizations are better prepared to mitigate the fallout as they can leverage previous experience and learnings to achieve a successful outcome.
That said, it’s never too late to hire crisis communications counsel. These are professionals with not only a great deal of business and strategic communications experience, but also individuals and teams who have been trial-tested themselves. They understand that each issue or crisis is comprised of unique factors; and they, without judgment, can quickly onboard and help make sense of even the most nebulous situations. These are professionals who like to get their hands dirty.
Do I need a Communications Counsel?
That said, it’s never too late to hire crisis communications counsel. These are professionals with not only a great deal of business and strategic communications experience, but also individuals and teams who have been trial-tested themselves. They understand that each issue or crisis is comprised of unique factors; and they, without judgment, can quickly onboard and help make sense of even the most nebulous situations. These are professionals who like to get their hands dirty.
So, whether your business is just starting out, entering a growth phase, or maintaining success, consider meeting with a crisis communications expert to identify your potential risks and to establish a relationship for future needs.
Learn more about our crisis management services here.
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