There’s an old adage in Crisis PR: “Lose focus, and you lose control. Lose control, and you lose.” A prominent litigator smiled when he heard it. “My version is quite similar: ‘Never…
Tag: control
Like Fish in a Barrel
To deflect accusations, redefine shades of gray. “Why do you always pick on politicians?” a friend asked. “Such easy targets. Hardly a week goes by…” the reputation manager replied matter-of-factly. “But don’t…
Winning Is Everything
In Crisis PR, never lose control … or you lose. “Never lose focus, or you lose control. Lose control, and you lose.” ~ The ultimate adage of Crisis & Reputation Management In…
Different Prisms
A recent Vatican report about U.S. nuns was most significant for what it didn’t say. It didn’t condemn the nuns for “radical” and “feminist” ideas as expected when the investigation began in…
Think You’re Ready? Think Again.
Don’t let it get personal. Or you lose sight of the goal. “Nothing rattles me,” the young executive routinely assures colleagues. Makes sense. That’s her job. She is the voice of calm…
Too Little. Too Late.
Get out in front of a crisis. Or the other side controls the story. When is “at all cost” too high a cost? The NFL is finding out. So are other…
Pandora’s Jar
Don’t like the media question? Answer the one you want. After all the evil had escaped, the legend goes, all that remained in the jar was hope — and mankind has never…
Give a Fish, Teach to Fish
Chief lesson for clients: Once burned. Twice shy. “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.” It’s one of those…
Que Sera, Sera
You can’t unring a bell. You can affect the outcome. Doris Day was wrong. A lot of people approach life that way, but it’s ultimately defeatist. They feel hopelessly trapped and surrender…
Last to Know. First to Go.
When cleaning house, the axe falls fast and without favor. Historically, this one-liner was applied to basic PR people — those who do marketing or general communications. They are routinely kept outside…