Choosing the Right Crisis Management Agency

In modern business having a reliable crisis management agency by your side is not just a safety net; it’s a strategic necessity. Whether you’re dealing with a PR fiasco, a legal challenge, or a social media mishap, the right agency can be the difference between a quietly resolved issue and a full-blown corporate catastrophe.

Understanding the Role of a Crisis Management Agency

A crisis management agency specializes in preparing for and responding to events that can threaten a company’s reputation, financial health, or operations. The right agency doesn’t just put out fires; it prevents them. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is a proverb we can all recite for a reason!

You wouldn’t hand your average person an NFL playbook and ask them to go coach a game, right? While there are certainly standard crisis management playbooks you can reference, it takes someone with specific expertise to fully understand the how, why, and when of which strategies and supporting tactics to deploy. That’s where a trusted agency comes in.

Why Your Business Needs a Crisis Management Agency

Expertise and Experience: These agencies bring a wealth of experience in handling crises across various industries. They know the landscape and can navigate the intricacies of any crisis, often foreseeing angles you might not have considered.
Preparation and Prevention: A well-prepared organization can often avoid a crisis altogether. Agencies help businesses identify potential vulnerabilities and create crisis management plans. As Benjamin Franklin wisely put it, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
Rapid Response: In a crisis, timing is everything. Having an agency ensures immediate action on important items, limiting damage and protecting your brand’s image.
Objective Perspective: In times of stress, it’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment. An external agency offers an objective, experienced viewpoint that can be crucial in making the right decisions.

Selecting the Right Agency for Your Business

Not all crises are created equal, and neither are crisis management agencies. When choosing an agency, consider the following:

Specialization: Does the agency have experience in crisis management specifically, or is it a side practice? While a few agencies can truly do it all, many who claim crisis expertise aren’t working in that area on a daily basis.
Track Record: Look for success stories and references. While specifics may need to be disguised, good consultants will be able to connect you with people they’ve worked with in the past.
Approach: Does their approach align with your company’s values and culture? In modern crisis management, it’s becoming a top priority to align company values with crisis strategy. A quiet B2B service provider needs a different approach from a nonprofit that’s vocal regarding social issues.
Availability: Can they offer the rapid response that crises demand? As we’re fond of saying, crises don’t take weekends and holidays off. A good agency should have your back for crisis response outside of the traditional 9-5.

I’m confident in saying that Bernstein Crisis Management has quite a few clients who would tell you that a good crisis management agency is not just a consultant; it’s a partner in safeguarding your brand’s integrity and future. In a world where situations that threaten operations, reputation, and your financial bottom line can strike at any moment, having the right team on your side is not just good business sense—it’s peace of mind.

Erik Bernstein
erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com