A friend of mine always said this one-liner, “I need to know what the facts are, so I know what lies to tell.” As cool as this sounds, I always knew he…
Tag: Crisis communication best practices
4 Major Crisis Communication Mistakes You Must Avoid
When your company is facing a PR crisis, the last thing you want to do is make a mistake that will aggravate the backlash. Unfortunately, we repeatedly see way too many organizations…
Protocol vs. Risk
Some fixes may work “most of the time.” But the client wants one to work this time. Consider this: Ten labor lawyers are presented with a problem and asked what to…
Truth Is What You Believe It Is
There’s no Truth with a capital “T.” Just perception and what you’re most comfortable with. When the Nobel committee announced the winners of its prize for economics this year, people were left…
Definitions, Leaks & Reputation
You have so much at stake. Don’t let it slip away. Protect it. At the end of the day, it all depends on how you define things. For the secret court that…
Getting Paid & Being Thanked
Gratitude is rare…and even more special! Usually, the best any of us can hope is that clients will pay their bills promptly. It’s rare they take the time or effort to say…
Trains, Planes & Media Mistakes
Rumors and media mistakes now speed around the world in mere seconds. In 1873, Jules Verne captivated readers with “Around the World in 80 Days,” a saga of steamships and trains. In…
Measure Twice. Cut Once.
With PR, making an error doesn’t mean you simply toss the lumber away and get a new piece. Time is a luxury. Room for error is nonexistent. “Measure twice. Cut once.”…
To Be Effective, Simplify the Message
You need to tailor your message to your audience. After 2 1/2 weeks in Seoul, I’m over the Pacific again, flying the opposite direction. It’s been a refreshing reminder of the relativism…
The Sooner the Better
You need to do damage control quickly. That’s always the best response when your business or reputation are being threatened. The opposite — better late than never — is always undesirable. …