Best result in Crisis PR? No story. Next best: Making it less painful. Recently, a group of people was sitting around a table for an informal chat. The topic du jour: Is…
Category: Crisis Management (page 7)
“Check Your Testosterone at the Door”
Don’t let the rush of a small victory distract you from your ultimate goal. In some circles, “attorneys” and “argumentative” are considered synonymous. But one judge had had enough. In handing down…
More Than a Little. Less Than Too Much.
Taking control doesn’t clear you. But it buys you breathing room. A professional liar and a PR guy walk into a bar. How can you tell the difference? This is fill-in-the-blank humor.…
No Margin for Error
In a crisis, you must “know,” not “hope.” In World War II, a new phrase entered the lexicon: “Good enough for government work.” At the time, it was high praise: If you…
The Very High Cost of Being Unprepared
A crisis is no time for wondering what to do. Every organization is vulnerable to PR crises at any moment. Government investigation. Nasty litigation. Financial turmoil. Sudden management change. Data breach. Product…
Speed & Accuracy
The world isn’t going to get slower. So Crisis PR needs to get even faster. There are few, if any, better training grounds for journalists and Crisis PR people than The Associated…
“Go in a Pope. Come Out a Cardinal.”
Wishful thinking lets matters fester. When 115 Roman Catholic cardinals walked into the Sistine Chapel recently, any of them could have become the next Pope. Some believed they would. When they walked…
Don’t Mistake Inaction for Inactivity
If you’re good, don’t flail. Exude calm. Some people thrive on action, whether they’re doing it or watching it. If you’re not in motion, you’re deemed to be doing nothing. Long ago,…
Belief & Proof
“For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don’t believe, no proof is possible.” –Stuart Chase, 20th-century American economist and social commentator When your reputation is on the line,…
One Size Fits All? Not Even Close
To protect clients, you must know the skeletons. “What’s a typical situation and solution in Crisis PR?” It’s a common question. But it’s the wrong one. Looking back on decades of…