Preparedness
An organization’s ability to weather crises successfully often relies on the preparedness of its communications and leadership teams. It is crucial for these teams to recognize the realities and immediacy of today’s communications environment and solidify their strategies into actionable plans.
Partners in Crisis Preparedness
Choosing 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. Effective planning and training can go a long way toward ameliorating, or even avoiding, the potential damage to public perception a crisis can cause. Organizations most successful in weathering crises are those whose communications and leadership teams cement their strategies into actionable plans.
We help clients prepare for and respond to the crises that impact reputations and bottom lines. Our clients are companies and associations 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 the following:
- Vulnerabilities Audit: Our experienced professionals assess any lingering issues or vulnerabilities that could potentially escalate into crises. We provide strategic guidance and actionable steps to overcome these challenges so you are positioned to communicate as quickly as possible if ever needed.
- Crisis Scenario Planning: We work closely with your team to develop a scenario-based crisis plan that is honest, actionable and easy to use. Most importantly, the crisis plan will tailor to your organization, your industry and your needs. Through this process, we work with you to develop effective messages and responses that align with your brand’s voice and values.
- On-Call Crisis Counsel: Our expert advisors are available 24/7 to provide immediate counsel and support in times of bubbling or emerging challenges. We pride ourselves on timely and well-informed decision-making to help mitigate potential damage.
- Ongoing Monitoring: We continuously monitor traditional and social media platforms to stay vigilant for any signs of potential or worsening crisis. By closely monitoring public sentiment, we can proactively address issues before they escalate.
- Spokesperson Training: We offer specialized crisis-oriented training programs to equip your spokespersons with the skills and confidence to communicate effectively during a crisis. We focus on enhancing their leadership qualities and transforming them into skilled crisis communicators.
By partnering with us, you gain a trusted ally dedicated to helping you navigate complex crises. Together, we will work to maintain your organization’s reputation, foster positive stakeholder relationships, and safeguard your bottom line.
Crisis Preparedness FAQ
What is crisis preparedness and why is it important?
Crisis preparedness refers to the proactive measures organizations take to anticipate, plan for, and effectively respond to potential crises. A crisis can be anything that impairs your organization’s ability to operate or erodes its goodwill. Crisis preparedness involves developing strategies, protocols, and communication plans to mitigate the impact of a crisis on the organization’s reputation, stakeholders, and bottom line. Crisis preparedness is crucial because it enables organizations to respond swiftly, minimize damage, and maintain public trust during challenging situations.
How can crisis preparedness benefit my organization?
It’s hard to understate how much speed matters in responding to crises. You can wait to respond to issues as they arise, but every minute wasted amplifies risk to your reputation and bottom line. Effective planning and communication help protect your bottom line. By planning ahead, you can deliver timely, nuanced and authentic communication that actually make a difference to your reputation and bottom line.
How should we define a crisis?
A crisis does not need to be major to have a significant impact. A crisis is any event – large or small – that can impair an organization’s ability to operate or affect the goodwill a client has earned. Situations involving hints of misinformation and unsubstantiated social media rumors are all included under this banner, along with more traditional crises threatening safety and property.
How often should we review and update our crisis preparedness plan?
Crisis preparedness plans should be dynamic and regularly reviewed to ensure their relevance and effectiveness. As your organization evolves, new risks may emerge and existing ones may change. It is recommended to review and update the crisis preparedness plan annually or whenever significant organizational changes occur. Organizational changes include adjustments in key personnel, operations, or external factors that may impact the organization’s risk landscape. Regular drills, simulations, and scenario testing can also help identify areas for improvement and ensure that the plan remains current.
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.