My work with clients in crisis is conducted confidentially.  Although I would like to share examples of my work, I'm confident you will appreciate that I cannot do so.  However, as the result of developing urgent communication programs with clients in situations ranging from unexpected executive resignations, hostile takeover attempts, tragic deaths, evacuations, chemical spills, faulty products and a variety of other threats to my clients' reputations, I can say that certain factors are almost always present in corporate crisis situations.  I believe, that the list below clearly distinguishes my understanding of and approach to clients in crisis.

Common mistakes in a crisis.
Clients in crisis typically ...
... are driven to respond to executive ego damage rather than actual damage to the interests or reputation of the organization;
... greatly over-estimate the role that mass media play in creating or resolving the crisis situation;
... greatly under-estimate the role that opinion leaders play in resolving crises;
... are very likely to want to take actions that will extend the crisis, not resolve it;
... don't speak in a way that helps to resolve a crisis;
... are guided by fear of lawsuits rather than what they know is the right thing to do;
... have one, specific and very dangerous gap in their ability to manage a crisis effectively.

From "How To Handle A Public Relations Crisis"
(Jim Lukaszewski)
Hesitation
Obfuscation
Retaliation
Prevarication or equivocation
Pontification
Confrontation
Litigation

If you believe that I can be of service to you in a crisis situation, please contact me in confidence, at 610.792.3329 or davidkirk@thePRguy.com.

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davidkirk@thePRguy.com