I don’t think the best crisis manager in the world could have been prepared for what 2020 had to bring.
Although trained in crisis management, and a professional crisis manager for more than two decades, 2020 had me “sharpening the saw” on these skills round-the-clock.
Whether a pandemic, a natural disaster, or a negative social media post going viral – these situations are not only daunting, they can be terrifying.
We all know this first-hand – just consider where our collective heads were at in March.
The upside? We can learn from this past year and intentionally prepare an action plan.
Consider these three questions:
-
Does your company have a documented crisis/issues action plan that’s “shared by all”? If the answer is no, get one. Don’t know where to start? Meet with your leadership team to discuss the top three to five recurring issues that your organization has been facing.
-
Do you have a crisis team? Even if you don’t call them a “crisis team,” who in your company is consistently involved when a crisis or issue hits? Hint: If it’s you alone, as the business owner, that needs to change. And fast.
-
Is your company’s mission, are your core values, and is your messaging shared by everyone on your team? This question might seem out of place compared to the first two, but it’s essential that your employees share consistent messaging and live and breathe your core values. And it needs to start on the front lines – who’s answering your phones?
If you’re 0 for 3 on the questions above (or even 1 or 2 for three), decide to make a change. Prepare for the unpredictable and get started.
Need help putting a plan together? McKeeman Communications offers a free 60-minute consultation that can help your company. Email us at [email protected].
