You Should’ve Called Earlier

Don’t wait until the last minute to ask for help.

Call early, and you have more options. Call later, and you have fewer.

A business owner was the target of scurrilous gossip and accusations on the Internet. Because his business community and social circle were tight-knit and intertwined, his reputation was being damaged in both.

But he waited several months before seeking help. This happens too often.

Why did he wait? He’d tried to ignore the damage until he could stand it no longer. By then, the damage was embedded.

If you were the target, how would you respond, and why?

Are the allegations true, but you don’t know what to do? Are they partially true, but you don’t want to call more attention to them or yourself? Or are they completely off-base, and you trust everyone will realize that by themselves and be on your side?

If they’re untrue, never let them linger.

It doesn’t matter whether they’re written or whispered. If unchallenged, that’s what people are likely to believe and remember.

Nuggets of truth woven into fabrications are the most dangerous. They make for the most believable lies. As painful or embarrassing as it may be at the moment, you must own up to your missteps, ferret out the falsehoods, and set the record straight.

If the things being said are true but you wait too long to do something about it, you miss the opportunity to frame the story. It’s now a distant blur in the rearview mirror, and what people believe has been established.

But not all is lost.

You can use this as an opportunity for improvement. Pivot away from the mistakes, show people you’re making strides to be better, and shift the focus towards a brighter future.

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You can reach Roger Gillott and Eden Gillott directly at 310-396-8696.

Gillott Communications is a Los Angeles-based public relations firm that specializes in high-stakes Crisis & Reputation Management with more than 50 years of expertise in strategic communications, corporate public relations, and working with the media.