How would you feel if all eyes were suddenly on you? You’re put on the spot, and millions of people are watching your company drown in disasters affecting its public image. All…
Tag: mistake
3 Ways to Handle a Mistake
You’ve made a mistake. Now what? We all make mistakes. How you handle it is crucial. Clients usually fall into three categories: Category 1: Least effective. Live in denial or delusion.…
Ghosts of Goof-ups Past
Screw up once, shame on who? Screw up twice, shame on you. Never any shortage of problems that threaten reputations. Nor any end in sight for the drama that goes with them.…
Open Mics & Disengaged Minds
Foot-in-mouth disease has damaged many careers and ended others. Its history is long, colorful, and likely to continue. You can’t unring that bell. Most of the time, it has a close correlation…
“So, what do you do?”
“When you’re fresh meat, kill and throw them something fresher.” ~ Frank Underwood in House of Cards “We’re fixers. We’re crisis managers. It’s not about solving a crime. It’s not about justice.…
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…
Gullible
Knowing what sells to the media gives you a fighting chance. Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never is, but always to be, blest. ~ Alexander Pope, 18th century English…
No Mistakes & No Escape
Crisis PR in the digital age: No escaping tethers of smartphones & 24/7 news. To Einstein, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result was the definition…
Blank Slate. But Not for Long.
There are no happy accidents. Just ugly surprises if unprepared. We all start with a clean sheet. But it fills up fast. Putting aside the advantages of birth and wealth that some…
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…