crises don't discriminate - the leader's guide
Risk and Crisis communication has changed!
No company, government, organisation, region or leader is immune from a crisis today. This may have always been the situation, but the 24/7 communication world ensures you cannot get away with the old approach of 'let's bury it'.
No one can predict when a crisis will occur. But they can plan for it through Risk communication strategies. This is separate to Crisis communication strategies. Failure to recognise the difference is where many leaders and organisations step off the cliff.
Current global surveys by the World Economic Forum and Aon Risk Management, highlight that every organisation is confronting more risks than ever before.
From Board room and management failures to cancel culture, bad behaviour, cyber-attacks and breaches, human-made incidents, supply chain issues and governance failure – all are resulting in damaged reputations and brands at accelerated rates.
If you are not prepared, or know how to handle a crisis, you will see your reputation and the perception of your organisation suffer at the hands of the stakeholders, the media and the broader community.
This is why CEOs, Board members and communication and risk managers need to understand the:
- risk matrix – the risks and issues that could cause a crisis and the mitigation processes - including, understanding uncertainty, reassurance processes, apologies (sorry), emotions, fear, speculation, perceptions, owning mistakes and stakeholder engagement.
- unforeseen major events - the ‘Black swans’ or ‘Gray rhinos’
- natural or unnatural events – fires, floods, droughts etc.
Crises don’t discriminate.
However, they can be managed effectively and efficiently and with a reputation intact. To get there, Boards and senior management need to elevate risk management communication to a critical operational and governance level.
RMA’s Risk and Crisis Management Planning Series covers the seven key elements of being prepared and how to execute the key steps in identifying, classifying, reacting, responding, recovering and reshaping your operations in preparation for any emergency.
- Reputation and perception analysis and strategy
- Issues and Risk assessment and Risk matrix
- Plans, Development and Education
- Scales and Resources
- Governance, Ownership and Responsibility
- Regulations and Standards
- Testing, Training, Review and Updates
Risks and Crises are part of our dedicated communication practice expertise. You need to be prepared. Talk to us - www.robertmasters.com.au. Email: robertm@robertmasters.com.au
