Unit 7: Crisis Communications
Success is a long haul, but disasters happen in an instant. A little advanced preparation can help save the day when a crisis strikes, and a crisis communication strategy can calm the flames before the home burns down. For most organizations, a crisis is a barrage of urgent, unexpected, unpleasant events that allows no time to think, organize, or plan appropriate actions. Unfortunately, most organizations begin to plan for crises after the crisis hits. This is a big mistake. The goal of a crisis management plan should be containment and positive counteraction. The three best approaches to a crisis are to:
- avoid it in the first place;
- quickly address and resolve issues before they escalate; or
- seek possible ways to turn your crisis into an opportunity.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 3 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- describe and prepare advanced crisis planning; and
- explain how to conduct crisis management and public outreach.
7.2: Crisis Management and Public Outreach
7.2.1: How to Avoid Crises
Read these articles by three public relations experts who specialize in avoiding crisis situations. The time to plan for crisis management is before a disaster happens.
7.2.2: How to Apologize
Read this strategic communications article on how to help corporate clients apologize for their mistakes.
7.2.3: How to Fix Crises
Read these articles by three public relations experts who specialize in resolving crisis situations. Once a crisis is underway, you can take steps to counter the crisis before it escalates into a disaster by establishing credibility with the public and media and using effective tools to get your message out.
7.3 : Case Studies
Read these articles by three public relations experts who focus on crisis case studies.
Unit 7 Discussion
- Make forum posts: 1