Ono the Ostrich CRISIS MANAGER
The Internet Newsletter about Crisis Management
Editor: Jonathan Bernstein

"For Those Who Are Crisis Managers,
Whether They Want to be or Not"

ISSN:1528-3836
© 2010 Jonathan Bernstein

Volume XI, Number 05
March 17, 2010

JUST A THOUGHT

Failure to address the causes and conditions of crises guarantee they'll happen again.

FROM THE EDITOR

As my readers know, I'm a strong proponent of using plain English to communicate important concepts, and hence was delighted to meet up, virtually, with author Jean Palmer Heck.  Her Tough Talks in Tough Times provided fodder for the feature interview in this issue.


That lengthy interview is followed by a few short topics, the mentionable debris from my "newsletter ideas" folder.


Thank you to all of the initial purchasers of my new
Keeping the Wolves at Bay - Media Training.  The content and design have been getting rave reviews, much appreciated by me and my designer/illustrator/wife, Celeste.


If you are eager for crisis management-related news in between issues, do visit our blog, which is fed stories five times a week by our "blog team," my son Erik and I.  Erik is also making some of my clients very happy with his social media program implementation on their behalf.


As always, if you like what you see, please share it with others and tell them to subscribe!

 

BCM

My best to all,

Jonathan



TOUGH TALKS IN TOUGH TIMES
An Interview with Author Jean Palmer Heck

By Jonathan Bernstein

BCM
[Editor's Note:  I actually can't remember where I first saw material written by Jean Palmer Heck, but I do remember thinking "Hey, that's someone who understands the connection between employee relations and crisis management."  Too often, an employer's focus is all on external audiences.  When I got my hands on her book, Tough Talks in Tough Times, I knew that I had to interview her for this ezine. As you'll see below, Jean is a plain talker  -- and her advice is solid gold.]

 
JB:  I maintain that every employee is a public relations representative and crisis manager for their organization, whether we want them to be or not.  Do you agree?

JPH: Of course, I agree! Each person on the payroll is the face and voice of your company. Treat them fairly. Educate them about issues that affect the business (macro and micro; local, national and international). Show them that you value them by listening to their perspectives. They are the ones who will help you and your company weather the current economic storm and any crisis that comes your way.

JB: I've seen employers walking on eggshells around their workers when it comes time to announce bad news.  Is that the right approach?

JPH:  It's quite natural, but it isn't the right approach. In my research for Tough Talks in Tough Times: What Bosses Need to Know to Deliver Bad News, Motivate Employees & Stay Sane, I interviewed many business owners, HR experts and psychotherapists, among others.  I heard many personal stories of how the bosses began to distance themselves from the workforce when they were aware bad news was looming. These same bosses felt a closeness with their employees before hand and thus were personally disturbed by actions they would need to take. It added to their stress in the long run.

As the therapists and counselors noted, when the boss distances himself or herself from employees, it does nothing to help anyone.  It's a compassionate connection which will help the employee absorb bad news.

JB:  I have often said that "in the absence of communication, rumor and innuendo fill the gap," sometimes creating preventable crises.  You seem to say much the same thing in your book, referring to rumors as "elephants in the room."  Can you elaborate on that a bit, and what are your top tips for rumor control?

JPH:  Break-room big shots and parking lot pundits have been around since the dawn of business.

Ever since the first shop owner in Mesopotamia hung an "Open for Business" sign on the front door...or tent, people who work for business owners have talked among themselves behind their bosses' backs, postulating what is happening from 9-5 (and longer), and what will be happening in the future.

Sometimes the discussions are based on facts which have been shared by the bosses themselves. But just as often, 'shop talk' is based on gossip and conjecture.

Responsibility for good communication at work lies at the feet of any person who supervises employees--no matter what level. Failure to communicate openly, honestly, and frequently is the downfall of many organizations. Today, it's more important than ever.

The current economic news has the workforce scared. And scared employees want answers. If the boss is not providing them, it doesn't mean that the employees won't ask. It just means that they'll make up the answers themselves.

Doubts about the economy and survival of a company can quickly turn into fear; fear, into rumors; rumors, into mental paralysis; mental paralysis into lost productivity. It's a downward spiral that must be stopped. The only way to stop it is to communicate.

Here are some tips for bosses to control the rumor mill in today's tough times:
  • The boss must stay in front of the rumor mill by having regularly scheduled discussions, allowing employees to ask questions freely.
  • Young managers must be well-trained to understand the impact of casual remarks. Offhand comments can be misinterpreted and spread.
  • Key people must constantly be advised what company information can and cannot be shared, and with whom. "Pillow talk" can be dangerous.
  • When there is a well known rumormonger in the workplace, he must be confronted. That person must be made aware of how detrimental his words are to the company, his colleagues, and his career.
  • When someone talks 'out of school,' he or she must be taken out of the loop for getting any inside information in the future.
JB:There's not a week that goes by, it seems, without reading of an employee or former employee going berserk and then killing people at his workplace. What can employers do better to reduce the chance of this happening?

JPH: That's a very difficult issue, Jonathan, that troubles all companies, large and small. There are procedures that can be put in place, but it is extremely important to be aware that a boss may never really know what is going on in an employee's life. Several of the people I interviewed shared stories of ideal employees who showed no signs of mental health issues, but personal matters sparked unexpected actions, such as suicide attempts and company sabotage.

In Tough Talks in Tough Times, I share the advice of the many people who have experience in security and other HR related issues. Here are a few excerpts on the topic:

Insights on employment law

Employment attorney Heidi Leithead of Parr Brown Gee & Loveless in Salt Lake City, Utah, advises using an EAP for those who are not violent but may have psychological issues. "Explain to the employees being terminated or furloughed how long they have access to the services and encourage them to call. Have the correct telephone number and other contact information readily available."

Considering the ramifications of the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1990, it becomes tricky to involve medical or psychiatric personnel. When discussing employees who have mental health issues, Heidi says, "From the federal perspective, the employer is not required to have a counselor or other medical professional available when conducting a layoff or other termination.

"State laws vary," Heidi adds. "If you reasonably believe someone is suicidal, you may have some obligation to make sure that person gets assistance before leaving your location. At the end of day, as their employer, you don't want to be thinking, 'I should have stepped in.'"

Ensuring security & safety

The security and safety of all involved-the person giving the message, the person receiving it, and those in the office or plant-must be considered ahead of time.

Heidi adds, "When one gives any kind of negative employment news, it's extremely important to have a witness present. Firing someone, laying them off, and giving a negative performance appraisal to a volatile person should never be done in a one-on- one situation."

Twice in Heidi's 25-year career in employment law she has alerted local police about safety and security concerns. "In one case, we knew the person had access to a gun so the police were in the room during the tough talk. Fortunately, nothing happened. Another time, police were present in the parking lot," she adds. "It's a difficult call, but erring on the side of caution is never wrong."

Hidden reactions to tough talks

"Inside a corporation, any of us can be at our worst psychologically and still function," says Rose Gailey an executive coach with Gagen MacDonald. "So it's imperative to be aware that there are at-risk populations in every group. It's critical to have the support of professional counselors, especially during these tough times. You don't know if someone is on the edge. You have to be prepared."

Patti Ayars, who has been in senior HR roles with several major corporations, has seen a variety of ways people process the news of a layoff or bad performance review, but categorizes the situation this way: "It's like people go one of two ways; they let their emotions show or they close down. When the latter happens, it's as if a message plays in their heads saying, 'It is not appropriate to show emotions in the workplace.' Those are the people who worry me."

Because few managers and supervisors are licensed therapists, it is important to remember that, even if you have tremendous insights into your workers, you have not been trained to give psychological counseling. Employee assistance programs can provide help. Turn to them whenever appropriate.

Jean Palmer Heck is an international communications advisor and author of several learning resources in addition to Tough Talks
BCM
in Tough Times.
Utilizing her skills as a strategist, TV news anchor and corporate spokesperson, she speaks at conferences around the world and has trained people from 32 countries.  She is the president of Real-Impact Inc., a communications consulting firm.  More information is available at
www.toughtalks.biz.  Email:
jean@toughtalks.biz.



SHORT SUBJECTS
By Jonathan Bernstein

HE'S BAAAACCCKKKK!

As sick as some of us are of news about Tiger Woods, he's thrown himself back into the media maelstrom by announcing his return to golf at the Master's, on April 8 (my natal birthday, which I'm sure was a major consideration for him).  To my surprise, TIME magazine called me for my take on this event, which they reported, along with other commentary, at
Tiger Woods Returns.

THE NEWS ABOUT NEWS

Pew Internet reports that the Internet has surpassed newspapers and radio as a primary news source, and that TV's lead will fall soon. This has major implications for crisis management and for public relations in general; anyone whose focus remains primarily on traditional media puts their reputation, and their bottom line, at grave risk.
A MUST-READ STUDY

Burson-Marsteller's study on social media usage by Fortune 100 companies is a must-read with implications for organizations of all sizes.

BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENTS
(aka blatant self-promotion)

Keeping the Wolves at Bay: Media Training

What has 80+ pages of hard-hitting, entertaining and easy-to-read guidance on how to deal with both traditional and online media during times of crisis?  The answer is
Keeping the Wolves at Bay - Media Training.Book Cover JPG

The, four-color, perfect-bound, 8x10 manual is currently available both in hardcopy ($25) and PDF form ($10).  Note to those who pre-ordered the hardcopies -- they're in and being shipped now!

Here's a couple of teaser reviews for you:

Jonathan Bernstein's Keeping the Wolves at Bay is an eminently practical guidance for anyone - business leader, celebrity, politician - who must willingly or unwillingly face the glare of media attention. It appears
at a moment in time when the social media and other digital communications have upped the ante exponentially.
Bernstein's practicum on media relations takes on renewed urgency as news, gossip, and opinion now drive
public perception virally and at the speed of light.

 
Richard Levick, Esq.
President & CEO
Levick Strategic Communications, LLC

 
Even if you think you'll never, ever be interviewed by the media, buy this book and read it cover to cover. It isn't a substitute for media training. But it will give you the tools and confidence to go head to head -- and possibly even defang -- rabid reporters, blood-thirsty bloggers and social networking buffoons who are out to besmirch your good name.

Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound

The book and other products can be found at the
Crisis Manager Bookstore

Want To Blog And Tweet About
Your Organization But Don't Have Time?

Missing out on all the promotional and SEO advantages of doing so? Hire someone to be your voice...like Erik Bernstein, aka "Son of Crisis Manager."

More info:jonathan@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.



GUEST AUTHORS

GUEST AUTHORS are very welcome to submit material for "Crisis Manager." There is no fee paid, but most guest authors have reported receiving business inquiries as a result of appearing in this publication. Case histories, experience-based lessons, commentary on current news events and editorial opinion are all eligible for consideration. Submission is not a guarantee of acceptance.



ABOUT THE EDITOR & PUBLISHER

JonatJB Headshothan Bernstein is president of Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc., a national crisis management public relations agency providing 24/7 access to crisis response professionals. The agency engages in the full spectrum of crisis management services: crisis prevention, response, planning & training. He has been in the public relations field since 1982, following five-year stints in both military intelligence and investigative reporting. Write to jonathan@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.



LEGAL DISCLAIMER

All information contained herein is obtained by Jonathan Bernstein from sources believed by Jonathan Bernstein to be accurate and reliable.

Because of the possibility of human and mechanical error as well as other factors, neither Jonathan Bernstein nor Bernstein Crisis Management is responsible for any errors or omissions. All information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Bernstein Crisis Management and Jonathan Bernstein make no representations and disclaim all express, implied, and statutory warranties of any kind to the user and/or any third party including, without limitation, warranties as to accuracy, timeliness, completeness, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose.

Unless due to willful tortuous misconduct or gross negligence, Jonathan Bernstein and Bernstein Crisis Management shall have no liability in tort, contract, or otherwise (and as permitted by law, product liability), to the user and/or any third party.

Under no circumstance shall Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein be liable to the user and/or any third party for any lost profits or lost opportunity, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages whatsoever, even if Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

A service of this newsletter is to provide news summaries and/or snippets to readers. In such instances articles and/or snippets will be reprinted as they are received from the originating party or as they are displayed on the originating website or in the original article. As we do not write the news, we merely point readers to it, under no circumstance shall Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein be liable to the user and/or any third party for any lost profits or lost opportunity, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages whatsoever due to the distribution of said news articles or snippets that lead readers to a full article on a news service's website, even if Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Authors of the original news story and their publications shall be exclusively held liable. Any corrections to news stories are not mandatory and shall be printed at the discretion of the list moderator after evaluation on a case-by-case basis.


In This Issue
Just a Thought
Practice Makes...Better
Rebuilding a Reputation
Quick Links