Preparedness
Partners in Crisis Preparedness
Selecting a crisis-communication firm is about more than selecting a phone number to call in an emergency. You want a partner that invests in knowing your culture, your audiences and your voice. At the same time, this partner must be committed to being a good steward of your investment.
While crises cannot always be prevented, they can be anticipated. Through effective planning and training, an organization can go a long way to ensure that the potential damage to public perception a crisis can cause is ameliorated or even avoided. Organizations most successful in weathering crises are those whose communications and leadership teams recognize the realities and immediacy of today’s communications environment, as well as those that cement their strategies into actionable plans.
Our approach to crisis preparedness
We help clients prepare for and respond to the issues and crises that impact reputations and bottom lines. Our clients are companies and nonprofits interested in developing programs to create and maintain positive outcomes among their diverse audience segments — from employees, customers, neighbors and shareholders to online communities and advocates.
Our crisis preparedness clients receive:
- A “deep dive” review of traditional and social media standings
- A vulnerabilities audit of lingering issues with guidance of overcoming them
- Crisis scenario planning and message development
- On-call crisis counsel for bubbling or emerging challenges
- Ongoing traditional and social media monitoring and reporting
- Crisis-oriented spokesperson training building their leadership into skilled crisis communicators
Case studies
Learn About Our Work
The Phoebe and AKCG teams have collaborated to develop and install robust issue and crisis communication plans to help ensure that this organization focused on health care, housing and support services for seniors can weather challenges, with its reputation and integrity intact. This scenario-based preparedness program allows us to reach key audiences effectively and authentically in today’s near-instant communication landscape.
When an East Coast independent school accepted an extremely high-profile student, the school partnered with AKCG to develop a crisis-communications Escalation Plan — a roadmap to guide communications in response to a range of potential crisis events. The plan was put into action on numerous occassions, helping the school execute a timely response to developments with explosive potential.
AKCG, through its relationship with The National Catholic Risk Retention Group (TNCRRG), provides a variety of communication-preparedness services — including webinars, newsletter contributions and live presentations — to the organization’s members. Additionally, AKCG provides scenario road maps on issue and crisis topics to help the organization’s members prepare for challenges. These planning tools guide members through the planning and initial communications phases of instances that could negatively impact reputation and community goodwill.