In crisis situations, will your communications—and actions—ring true?
Businesses and organizations were profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, struggling through shutdowns and mandates while trying to keep their people employed, provide products and services, and ultimately, keep the lights on.
Regardless of your industry or the possible crisis you face, the need for a crisis communications strategy and on-point, timely communications has never been greater so tyou make it to the other side of a calamity with your employees, customers, and stakeholders intact.
Here are things to consider when formulating a crisis communications strategy:
- What types of crisis do we face: natural disaster, human-caused mayhem, and/or temporary business shutdown do to a pandemic?
- How will the crisis potentially impact my business/organization, employees, customers, and stakeholders?
- Who are my stakeholders/audiences? (Employees, customers, suppliers, media, other)
- What do they need to know from my business/organization in a crisis?
- What is the strategy and messaging to each audience?
- Do I need adjust my product and/or service offerings to better serve/support those who count on my business/organization?
- What is the best way to deliver my messages? (Website, social media, email, video, SMS messages, other)
- How must my strategy and messaging change over time? (Immediate, short term, long term)
Universal attributes of a crisis communications strategy:
- Authenticity
- Clarity
- Consistency
- Dynamic
- Empathic
- Honest
- Positivity
- Mechanisms for feedback
I work with clients on crisis communications strategies, messaging and implementation. If your company or organization needs help developing a strategy to mitigate risk during a crisis, let’s schedule a call. I’m a great listener, have deep experience in crisis communications, happy to share advice and if you need help, let’s do it. You can reach me via email and text.
Email: melanie@lux-writes.com
Mobile: (803) 331-4794