Crisis Management

Any business has a crisis from time to time, but the key to successfully managing a crisis is recognizing one as soon as possible. When you have a crisis or disaster, there are several things you can do to minimize the damage.

• Be prepared. Make sure your staff is trained and has a good working knowledge of whatever it is you're dealing with. If someone has forgotten something, don't assume that it's just a matter of finding it. Ask someone else to find it and ask them not to interrupt the person who forgot it in the first place.
• Don't panic. Panic can be contagious, so don't let it spread through your business ranks. Even if there's no way for you to fix what's going on, do your best to maintain control of your staff and keep everyone calm while you try to figure out what you're going to do next. There will likely be many decisions that need to be made, so keep track of them all. Don't forget about the customers who are affected by your disaster or crisis either — they are just as important as the people who work for you!
• Be ready for more crises. We all know how bad news travels quickly in the digital world, but even if you get off easy this time around, there will probably be another crisis within six months or so, so be ready for it when it happens.

While the elements of an effective crisis management plan may vary by industry and should be adjusted to each firm, We have observed that any effective strategy will include the following:
Scenarios Planning: Scenarios planning Creating a list of possible crisis situations will assist you in preparing for whatever may occur.
Adaptive Responses: Having a variety of solutions that can be adjusted to practically any situation your business may face enables you to respond swiftly and correctly in the event of a crisis.
Activation guidelines: Identity carefully what makes a crisis. Determine when and how the crisis plan should be implemented, as well as who will make the call to enter crisis mode or simply wait it out.
Crisis response teams and command structure: Clearly define each team member's roles in the event of a crisis. There should be no doubt about who is responsible for what, who will speak to the media, and who can take time away from their regular jobs to focus on the current crisis.
Pre-approved communication strategy and messaging: This should include not just who will serve as the organization's spokesmen, but also the communication platforms they will use and the important messages they should deliver.
Regular simulation exercises: A plan is only beneficial if it can be implemented. Regular (but unplanned) testing should be conducted to determine response times and the strategy's ability to be implemented effectively.
Post-crisis review: Regardless of how well prepared you are, things rarely go according to plan. After a crisis, it is critical for organizational leaders to regroup and perform a detailed study of what went well and what could be improved. Ensure that any findings are included in a new crisis management plan.

Social media plays an important role in crisis communications, but it is not the only tool you can use. I’m talking about social media as a way to communicate your story and share your outreach with the world.
There are various ways to use social media in crisis response.
Sharing information about victims and disasters is one way to reach out to those affected.
Empowering those directly affected by the disaster is another tactic. For example, if you can offer shelter and other forms of support, it’s better than nothing at all. This helps them feel like they matter and that their lives will improve. It also helps them feel like they belong and that they're not alone — two primary emotions we tend to associate with positivity during an emergency.
The most powerful way social media can be used is as a news source. You can use Twitter or Facebook as a news outlet, providing information people need during an emergency so they know what's going on and who's dealing with it.

The crisis: Regardless of the business in which you work, there will undoubtedly come a time when something gets out of hand and risks damage from your brand's public image. This could include a variety of situations, including natural disasters, competition trash talk/mudslinging, slews of negative reviews/customer allegations, or a severe blunder and/or inadequate management of a situation by your organization.
The management: How a business responds to a crisis. The strategic plan that the entire organization follows in order to address, resolve, and recover from a crisis while aiming to maintain the company's brand.
The reality of the crisis management strategy can and does vary significantly depending on the business and the nature of the crisis. Ultimately, though, every business should strive to be honest, communicatively responsive, human, and accepting of criticism when necessary without being overly defensive.

Crisis communication is the process by which an organization communicates with its stakeholders (customers, employees, vendors, suppliers, the public at large) during times of crisis. Every organization has a different crisis communication plan that includes specific actions for handling threats or actual crises. However, the basic steps are the same.
The Role of Crisis Communication
Crisis communication is one of the most versatile tools available to any organization. It can assist in protecting your organization’s brand and reputation; ensuring that critical information reaches key personnel; keeping key personnel informed, and minimizing damage to operations and finances.

Companies create crisis management plans in a variety of methods. Occasionally on the spot, as an incident develops. Others construct them in advance, either as part of a regulatory exercise or as a result of a risk management exercise or something similar. For me, the critical point to remember is that relatively few people look for a plan during a crisis. The majority of people reach for the memories of an experience that matches most closely to what they can see. Planning's significance is far greater in the process than in the document. On this basis, We believe that the most successful businesses develop crisis management plans after rehearsing (exercising) against the risks they confront. Exercising provides people with a firm reference point, it helps them become acquainted with the other people they will be working with, and it acclimates them to the stress that a written plan cannot communicate. Consider the most significant risks you face, the impact such situations will have on your organization (people, environment, assets, and reputation), and determine what countermeasures you can implement to meet any regulatory requirements. Maintain a straightforward approach.