Crisis Communications

What should your Christian school or organization do when you have a crisis and need to communicate clearly and carefully with your community?

First step: Refer to your crisis communications plan

Wait, you don’t have one! That is not good. But the overwhelming majority of companies and organizations don’t have one either. This is a warning for you to not let things stay that way.

You must develop a Crisis Communications Plan now before this situation happens but that can only be done with good planning. Here is an article to begin your planning before it is too late: http://expertmediacoach.com/free-stuff/freestuff_crisis.html Some important points include...

1. Decide who will be in charge of communication and that person should always be the one to speak.
2. Make a list of all the worst things that might happen and develop a strategy to deal with each one.
3. Be careful to develop real, compassionate and careful responses for situations.
4. Don't wait for the media to come to you; go to them and initiate good communication.
5. Remember to keep statements short! 1-3 sentences or about 15 seconds is all you have, otherwise you are in danger of the media editing and even refocussing what you hoped to communicate.

You are responsible for the reputation of your school or organization! Don't let that reputation be damaged by not being prepared for a crisis!