This year has been rough, and we're expecting things to get worse before they get better. Is your business prepared?
Sharing this month's most popular content and crisis management insights.
Volume XXI | November 2, 2020
Just a Thought...
"“Another way to be prepared is to think negatively. Yes, I'm a great optimist. but, when trying to make a decision, I often think of the worst case scenario. I call it 'the eaten by wolves factor.' If I do something, what's the most terrible thing that could happen? Would I be eaten by wolves? One thing that makes it possible to be an optimist, is if you have a contingency plan for when all hell breaks loose. "
— Randy Pausch, educator and author of "The Last Lecture"
From the Editor
And You Thought 2020 Has ALREADY Been Bad? Preparing For Crises Beyond COVID
Never before in my almost 40 years of crisis management experience have I ever seen an America more prone to erupt in new crises than right now.
No one likes to look at hard truths, yet part of our job as crisis management professionals and communicators is to look for trouble before it occurs and, if we can, help our employers or clients head it off. If we can’t, take advance steps to mitigate the damage. In that spirit, the following may make you wince – and it may save you a whole lot of stress and financial woe...
The above is a quote from a recent Ragan.com article by BCM founder & chairman Jonathan Bernstein. In it, he explores the reality of doing business in a world where COVID-19 has collided with social and political issues to elevate even seemingly minor issues into major threats on a daily basis.
As alerts warning of possible civil unrest go out to first responders around the country in relation to the impending election (didn't think you were reading through anything this week without that being mentioned at least once, did you?), as this year that seems intent on topping each month with a new struggle to face plods towards its conclusion, we urge you to consider the fact that your organization - whether international corporation or garage startup - will need to take proactive measures to navigate the waters ahead.
For the rest of the article, including a list of common crises we think likely to become even more pervasive for the average business in the near future, click here.
The Latest from Bernstein Crisis Management
UHS Ransomware Crisis Comms
With healthcare industry experts sounding the call regarding the threat malware and ransomware poses not only to the bottom line, but also to the health and safety of patients, we review an example of crisis communications after Universal Health Services became the target of an extortion attempt. [Read More]
Why Walking Your Talk Is Critical Today
While stakeholders are demanding many brands that normally stay quiet take a stance on social issues, doing so without thinking is an invitation for outrage. What should you consider before engaging on social issues, and how do you avoid creating trouble while trying to respond? [Read More]
Want to Learn More About Crisis Management Services? Our Experts Are Ready To Help
We offer a free no-obligation consultation to anyone who would like to discuss their needs or learn more about how BCM's four phases of crisis management - planning, training, simulation and response - can better protect their organization in a world where the outrage machine makes headlines every day.
Bernstein Crisis Management is a specialized firm dedicated, since January 1994, to providing rapid, highly effective strategies for preventing and managing crisis situations that harm people, property, business continuity, reputation and the financial bottom line. We guide our clients through every step of the crisis management process, from preparation to response, and are available 24/7 for assistance. Our more than 30 years of experience assisting clients worldwide makes us an absolute authority on preventing and responding to crisis situations.
Unlike most public relations firms that only offer crisis management as a side practice, we’re specialists.
By exclusively focusing on the full spectrum of services needed to prevent and/or mitigate crisis situations, we set ourselves apart from the competition. Company founder Jonathan Bernstein started the first international email newsletter on the topic of crisis management, which now reaches readers in 75 countries, and his article, “The 10 Steps of Crisis Communications” has received some 400,000 mentions online and has been reprinted in more than 20 languages. Our experts are also regular sources for popular media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Entrepreneur, CNN, BBC and CGTN, and have been published in hundreds of articles.
To meet the Bernstein Crisis Management team, click here.
All information contained herein is obtained from sources believed to be accurate and reliable.
Because of the possibility of human and mechanical error as well as other factors, neither Jonathan Bernstein nor Erik 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 and Erik 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 Erik 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 or Erik 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 or Erik 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 or Erik 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 or Erik 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.
Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc., P.O. Box 115, Burlington, CO 80807
