Be a Big Rock in Difficult Times
Mark Bishop
Freelance Communications Consultant working with a range of organisations to help them tell their story.
Organisations are facing unprecedented operational and communication challenges caused by the Coronavirus and when you are in the eye of the storm, strong leadership and well-rehearsed plans are enormously important.
Having spoken to risk managers that have worked with businesses facing crisis situations, it’s clear just how important strong and resilient leadership is. This is particularly so for smaller organisations where the difference between recovery and going under can be significantly influenced by the determination and ability of leaders to rise to the challenge and lead the recovery.
Effective crisis leadership is often underpinned by drawing upon existing plans and processes that may have taken many months, even years to create and hone. Many large organisations have crisis plans that have been scenario tested which means they are well prepared even in unprecedented times such as these.
Each organisation’s plans will be tailored to its own operational needs but the core principles will be consistent. This is certainly true when it comes to communicating in a crisis. Identifying and prioritising stakeholders, using the most effective communication channels to reach them, agreeing who should lead the communications to each stakeholder group, the timing of ongoing communication, setting the right tone in messages and being empathetic are all cornerstones of an effective crisis communications plan.
On a personal level, the impact of the Coronavirus is showing us just how important co-operation and looking out for one another can be. In particular this applies to the vulnerable and those less capable of looking after themselves. This principle should also apply to business.
Communicators in large organisations may find it challenging to meet their own objectives right now but they could potentially add even greater value by proactively sharing crisis expertise with customers and business partners. This could be as simple as sharing a crisis communications template.
It could make a difference and at the same time strengthen the bond with a customer or business partner that lasts well beyond the current crisis.