As the wave of #MeToo allegations rolls on and major bad guys like Epstein grab headlines, Bernstein Crisis Management president Jonathan Bernstein shared thoughts with MarketWatch on how some of these folks have managed to continue operating in public after being busted for egregious offenses, why the same tactics …
3 Public Speaking Tips From Crisis Management Experts
Posted on: 13, Jul 19
With very few exceptions, people will tell you that speaking in public terrifies them. Even when it’s to deliver good news! Make it your job to communicate about a negative issue, and suddenly the anxiety cranks up to an 11. While there is no magic formula to remove every …
When A Sudden Event Threatens Your Company, Step Up Like Wag
Posted on: 24, Jun 19
This guest post comes to us from expert consultant, Bernstein Crisis Management team member, and founder of Jon F. Harmon Strategic Communications, Jon Harmon! When a sudden event threatens your company, step up like Wag What do you do if you’re a five-year-old company suddenly faced with an existential …
Crisis Management Case Study: Exploding Fireplace Recall
Posted on: 12, Jun 19
[Author’s Note: The general public seldom gets to see what goes on behind the scenes of a significant product recall. It ain’t always easy!] The Crisis Home Products manufacturing (name disguised), based in the Midwest with operations throughout North America, received reports from distributor showrooms that some of the …
Tips To Help You Sort Through Today’s Polarized Publics
Posted on: 14, May 19
More and more often while working with clients we see examples of how extremely polarized audiences have become today. While gauging public reaction to your crisis communications is a recommendation any expert will give you, fewer mention the fact that you may see completely different responses to the same …
One more for the Non-Apology Hall of Shame
Posted on: 30, Apr 19
[Editor’s note: This guest post comes to us from frequent contributor – and our go-to crisis expert “down under” – Tony Jaques. This particularly timely article lands just as we’re seeing a flurry of non-apologies from big names (ahem, Boeing, ahem) and explores the simple steps to take if you’d …
3 Expert Tips To Help You Through Your Media Interview Or Public Statement
Posted on: 30, Apr 19
Having trained hundreds of clients for difficult speaking situations like media interviews or angry shareholder meetings we can tell you there’s one constant – people are scared of standing up in front of strangers and talking about bad news. It’s a bit surprising the first few times you see …
Boeing: “Sorry” Doesn’t Have To Be The Hardest Word
Posted on: 23, Apr 19
[While there’s absolutely a need to take care when dealing with issues involving major risk of litigation, sometimes the situation demands a clear, “We’re sorry”. In this guest post, reputation and crisis expert Mark Story asks why it was those words Boeing battled to avoid saying in the face …
Don’t Let Good Attorneys Make Bad News Worse
Posted on: 18, Apr 19
[Editor’s note: The following guest post from Silicon Valley-based writer Leslie Kelsay leverages her previous experience directing strategic and crisis communications to help us understand the unintended consequences that come with over-lawyering a public issue.] Don’t Let Good Attorneys Make Bad News Worse By Leslie Kelsay We get it: …
Have You Premeditated Any Evil Lately?
Posted on: 31, Mar 19
This guest post from leadership coach, facilitator, trainer, and author Mike McKenna takes a look at a strategy that will help you save projects before they ever encounter their first hurdle out there in the real world. Mike and his company, TEAM Solutions, are innovators in teaching leaders how …
Crisis Prevention: H&R Block Agents Take ‘Empathy Training’
Posted on: 21, Mar 19
When we say 95% of the crises to which we’ve responded over the last 30 years of doing business have been preventable, we’re serious. That’s why we found it so interesting to read about a strategy H&R Block used in advance of our most recent (and predictably controversial) tax …
Creating A Media Interview Checklist
Posted on: 09, Mar 19
Let’s face it, nobody wants to talk to the media in the middle of a crisis situation. Even the best-trained experts feel a little sweat when the heat is on, but you can eliminate an awful lot of unnecessary stress by making sure you’re prepared. Not sure where to start? After …
Setting A Strong Foundation For Crisis Communications
Posted on: 23, Feb 19
Create a solid foundation for communication in crisis Crisis communications plans cannot be cookie-cutter, but there are certain principles that apply to just about every situation. Get the core bits down pat, and you’ll leave yourself significantly more room to think about incident-specific actions or outside-the-box solutions to the issue at hand. …
8 Things You Should Never Share On Social Media
Posted on: 21, Feb 19
A little help to avoid creating your own social media crisis Before posting anything to social media you need to ask yourself – “What could go wrong here?”. Could I be insulting a stakeholder group? Does this message mean the same to an outsider as it did to our internal team? …
Smart or Risky? Starbucks Instructs Employees On Crisis Comms After Former CEO Announces Presidential Bid
Posted on: 01, Feb 19
Like it or not, when someone’s represented your company publicly for many years that association sticks around after they retire. That’s a lesson Starbucks is learning the hard way after former CEO and chairman Howard Schultz announced that he was considering a 2020 presidential run. Anticipating questions from customers …