- Public relations should not be overlooked when developing a crisis response plan for your business
- Effective communication can reassure employees and reign in any rumors or misinformation
- Quick response to a crisis is essential
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
A crisis response plan will help your business endure a wide variety of hardships, ranging from natural disasters to cyberattacks. While this plan can help you recover from a crisis, you shouldn’t overlook the importance of public relations during the ordeal.
Evan Nierman, founder and CEO of the crisis management firm Red Banyan, wrote a post for Forbes’ Young Entrepreneur Council offering tips on how companies can communicate effectively during a crisis. Strategies include:
- Responding quickly to a crisis to take control of messaging
- Developing different communications strategies for different crises
- Having a plan to communicate with employees about how company operations will change following a crisis
- Taking steps to quash any rumors or misinformation, including on social media
- Creating a crisis management team within the company and holding exercises to see how team members perform