Understanding Business Issues

Handling A Business Crisis: Four Tips

25 August 2017 by Connie Hanson

When your business has found itself in the midst of a crisis, it can feel like the entire world is against you. You may start to worry that your business will suffer as a result of negative press and rumors, which could affect the livelihood of yourself and your team. To manage things effectively during this time, utilize these suggestions.

Make a Plan

First, you need to know what steps and solutions you'll put in place to deal with what's going on. Will you issue a recall for broken products, for instance? Will you implement new background checks if you've had to fire an employee in a public way? Before anything else you have to have concrete plans so that people can see you're taking action instead of being passive in a troublesome situation.

Talk with Employees

Above all, you've got to protect your employees. Perhaps the best way to accomplish that is to ensure you're talking with them directly. Don't wait for the rumor mill to get fired up about what's happened; as soon possible, have a meeting with each department about the crisis. Lay out your plan for getting through the situation and remain until all concerns and questions have been raised. This will ease the minds of those who work for you and allow them to field questions or concerns when interacting with their families and others outside the company.

Be Transparent

Because you might not want to share too much about your business, you may be reluctant to share internal information that's related to the crisis you're going through. However, in these types of situations, that reluctance can look a lot like secrecy. People could start thinking that you're trying to hide something or be dishonest. Encourage managers and those in supervisory positions to be as open as possible.

Talk to the Public

Talking with the public is an easy way to communicate the goodwill of your company and to help them continue to have faith in the business. Whether you post a video to a social media site or seek out interviews with local news outlets, showing your face and talking honestly about the situation can help. Be sure that you admit mistakes and discuss any changes you'll be making.

When handling a crisis, the above activities can provide a sense of stability. Consult a communications firm, such as S & A Communications, for a more specialized, focused plan that can keep your company and reputation in good shape.

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