Every company, whether large or small faces risks each day and preparing for the consequences when a disaster strikes protects the interests of the company as well as its employees. How many times have you seen news stories about unexpected events that shook the stability of organisations around the world? Political upheavals, accidents, and cyber threats; no company is too big or too small for a sound crisis management plan.

A crisis management plan entails a detailed strategy on how to deal with significant problems step-by-step. It is the key to a company’s survival which also ensures that every stakeholder has some form of insurance from the effect of the crisis. The steps to crisis management which helps every company prepare for unexpected events are as follows.

Draw out a plan 

A sound crisis management strategy begins with a plan, and planning requires specific objectives. There are companies like A2 Global Risk Management that specialise in assisting organisations to come up with a plan to protect employees, inform clients and audiences, and ensure company survival. Every crisis management plan has actionable items to put into motion once a crisis ensues.

Designate a spokesperson 

Any crisis that involves the public, in general, is likely to attract the media’s attention. Every company needs a spokesperson who will face the audience and deliver a clear message. The spokesperson should also be capable of dealing with interviews and other media-related appointments.

Notify employees 

One of the first things you need to do when a crisis occurs is to inform employees, especially those directly affected by the event. Keeping critical employees in the loop will help smoothen out the management plan you have in place to mitigate the effects of the crisis. Being transparent with employees retains their trust and prevents them from losing confidence in the company. Information dissemination within the workforce will also minimise the spread of false information on social media platforms.

Be transparent with the public 

Although most companies choose to keep specific information about a crisis confidential, you still need to be honest with whatever amount of details you wish to share with the public. Regardless of the media channel you share information with; it is critical to maintain uniformity and consistency.

Inform clients and other stakeholders 

Aside from notifying employees, important clients, customers, and suppliers need to be informed as well. Don’t wait for them to learn about the problem through media channels. It helps bolster confidence if you tell them directly about the issue.

Provide updates regularly 

When there is a crisis affecting your company, frequent updates are also essential to prevent any rumours from infiltrating media channels. It is better to have more information than allow employees and stakeholders to become restless while waiting for news. You need to be able to communicate updates on your action plan and provide new developments as often as possible.

Focus on social media channels 

Social media is a powerful source of information and should be at the forefront of every company’s crisis management plan. Every organisation needs a team of employees managing social media accounts and posting relevant information as well as monitoring any activity related to the crisis.

 

 

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