Things are usually not out of your control. At least until the jury (literal or figurative) is ready to render its verdict. Until that point, you have a chance to affect the…
Tag: crisis (page 3)
Dear Santa, I Can Explain
’Tis the season for reflecting on what you’ve accomplished over the year — good as well as bad. While many adults are pondering potential new year’s resolutions, kids are writing letters to…
Selective Truth-Telling
An employee of a company that caters to leisure-time activities was accused of inappropriate behavior toward females. A journalist asked the company to comment on the accusation. But the company’s culture preached…
Maybe Nobody Will Notice…
File that idea under wishful thinking. It rarely works, and it’s always a bad idea. The reason: Even if the public is tolerant of the initial problem, it is furious if someone…
Behind the Scenes: The First Hours of a Crisis
You receive a call. Something’s gone horribly wrong, and everyone is demanding answers. Tiny beads of sweat form on your face. You feel a rush of heat all over your body. Time…
Starbucks: Be Fast. Not Hasty.
To calm a crisis, you must react quickly. But haste creates mistakes. These concepts aren’t contradictory. Rather, they’re a caution: Before you do or say anything, consider the consequences. How might someone…
Teach a Man or Lead a Horse?
The world is full of aphorisms. Some are actually useful. Consider how accurately they describe the role of consultants who try to steer their clients down paths that are more beneficial, more…
Taking Your Own Advice
One of the hardest things in life is to take your own advice. This is especially true in sensitive situations that can impact your reputation. We always give clients the same advice:…
The Alternative to Anger
As weapons go, anger can easily miss the target or misfire — and you may be the one who’s injured. Someone accusing you? Of sexual harassment or abuse (today’s most frequent claim).…
Old Year, New Era
Every year has an underlying theme. For 2017, it was a sharp divergence from the past. Expect more of the same in 2018. Doesn’t matter whether you feel the changes are for…