Your key team members are missing during a crisis. How will you navigate the communication chaos?

1 Assess Fast

In a crisis, time is of the essence. Quickly assess the situation to understand the scope and impact. Without your key team members, delegate their responsibilities to trusted individuals who have a clear understanding of your crisis communication plan. Ensure these stand-ins have access to all necessary information and authority to make decisions. This ad-hoc team should gather facts swiftly, understand the stakeholders involved, and prioritize actions to stabilize the situation.

2 Communicate Early

It's vital to communicate early and often during a crisis. With key team members absent, it's your responsibility to ensure that messages are consistent and accurate. Utilize all available channels to disseminate information to stakeholders, and don't wait for all the details before issuing a holding statement. This initial communication should acknowledge the crisis, express commitment to resolve it, and inform stakeholders about when they can expect further updates.

3 Leverage Resources

Utilize every resource at your disposal. This includes your existing crisis management plan and any communication templates that have been prepared in advance. Rely on your remaining team's strengths and bring in external support if needed. Remember that technology can be a powerful ally; use social media, your organization's website, and email lists to keep the dialogue open and information flowing.

4 Stay Flexible

Flexibility is your greatest asset when key players are missing. Be prepared to adjust your strategies as new information comes to light. Listen to feedback from stakeholders and be willing to change your approach if it means protecting your organization's reputation. Staying nimble allows you to respond to the unpredictable nature of a crisis more effectively.

5 Uphold Integrity

During a crisis, especially in the absence of key team members, maintaining integrity is paramount. Ensure that all communications are truthful and transparent. Avoid speculation and commit to providing updates as more information becomes available. Your stakeholders will remember how you handle this crisis long after it's resolved, so make honesty and ethical conduct the cornerstones of your approach.

6 Review Post-Crisis

Once the immediate crisis subsides, conduct a thorough review of how it was handled. This should be done even if key team members were unavailable during the event. Analyze what worked, what didn't, and how the team adapted to the absence of crucial personnel. Use these insights to strengthen your crisis communication plan for the future, ensuring you're even better prepared for the next unexpected challenge.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?