Whose finger is on the nuclear button at your workplace?

Ideally, companies and organizations have leaders who understand that their statements have the power to strengthen or jeopardize an entire enterprise. And well-run entities have leadership who understand the value of coordinated, calm and authoritative communications in times of crisis.

Crisis communications entails developing unified messaging that reassures stakeholders, conveys the story that your company or organization should be telling, and lays the groundwork for future progress. Above all, communications during a crisis should be accurate, consistent, confident and timely.

Effective leaders participate in and support crisis communications strategies, enabling their teams to do their best work and ultimately enhance the image and brand of their company or organization.

When the head of an entity goes off-message and calls an audible not in the playbook, even the best communications pros are challenged to mitigate the damage. It can be done, but the crisis communications plans have to be changed on the fly to adapt to the new circumstances. In the process, the brand is exposed to further damage and credibility becomes that much harder to win back.

Does your workplace have someone with a finger on the nuclear button? Can that person be trusted to stay on message?