Let’s be honest, at some point in our lives, whether as individuals or businesses, we’ve all faced some sort of a problem or crises which may have had an impact on our reputation and standing. Admittedly some people choose to deal with these problems by ignoring them and pretending that they don’t exist, but in our experience, this never goes down very well.
It can be difficult to know where to start when a crisis hits and we don’t blame anyone for feeling confused. But the fact of the matter is, you’ve got to stand up and take charge. So, here’s presenting 5 tips on how to deal with a PR crisis.
Don’t be afraid to admit when you’re wrong
If you’ve done something wrong then say so. You can’t shy away or hide forever and quite frankly, people will respect you for telling the truth. You need to take responsibility for what you’ve done and apologise.
Talk to the media
A lot of people think it’s better to avoid the media, but in actual fact you need to get in there before your competitors do, or before the whole thing gets blown out of proportion. Have a statement prepared in writing if you’re not confident enough to give interviews in person or over the phone.
Do something about it!
Show the public that you are committed to getting to the root of the problem. Show them how you plan on rectifying the issue and make it clear that you’re taking some sort of action.
Make sure it doesn’t happen again
So you’ve shown that you’re taking measures to deal with the problem and you’re working on right-ing the wrong. But you also need to ensure that the mistake is never repeated and need to put strict measures in place to ensure this.
Sort out your game plan
In the event of a future crisis who is going to be your go to person? Who will address your clients, staff and/or media? Have a plan in place so everyone knows what their role will be in such a situation so that they’re fully prepared.
Dennis Taraporewala 