crisis and the ceo
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Risk CommunicationsCounseling the Top Dog
Presented by Dan Keeney, APRDPK Public RelationsFebruary 27, 2009
Agenda
Crisis fundamentals The role of public
relations How we sometimes
contribute to a crisis getting worse
Inside the mind of a CEO
Case studies
YourCompany
PR
The Fundamentals
The three components of
crisis communications are
crisis planning, response and
recovery
Crisis Planning
Fundamentals: Define It
A crisis is an unexpected and
uncontrolled event or series of
events that disrupt normal
operations for a prolonged period
and cause unwanted public scrutiny
Planning: Keep the Plan Simple
The process of planning involves an objective inward-assessmentExamine operations and processesEvaluate and catalogue assets
Good plans can be hundreds of pagesBetter plans are just a few pages
A Crisis Plan that Works
“One of the first things you learn is you
have to have a plan in place. It doesn’t
matter whether it’s sophisticated or
simple – you’ve got to have one. Frankly,
the simpler the plan, the better.”
- Larry Hincker, Virginia Tech
A Crisis Plan that Works
“Most plans I see are convoluted,
unrealistic, out-of-date nightmares to
interpret and never tested by a drill. Good
plans point you in the right direction so you
can act fast. If yours doesn’t, throw it out
and start over.”
- Richard Amme
A Crisis Plan that Works
Keep it simpleFocus on functional aspects of responseBuild out crisis infrastructureExamine and mitigate vulnerabilities
Planning: Crisis Infrastructure
Crisis communications library Fact sheets, bios, aerial photos, database of
contacts Communications infrastructure
Offsite crisis response facility Satellite phones, VoIP capabilities
Consider having a “dark” crisis response Web site ready www.yourcompanyanswers.com
Planning: Vulnerability Checklist
Fatality Succession Security Activism Health and safety Employee discord Workplace violence Forces of nature Litigation Hostile takeover
Regulatory Quality issues Legislation Racial issues Environmental issues Animal rights issues Human rights issues Guilt by association Criminal acts
Prioritize Target Audiences
InsidersEmployees, shareholders, suppliers,
customersGovernment
Local, state and federal regulators and lawmakers
NeighborsMedia to reach community
Plan for Rapid Response
Who is on the Response Team and who are their alternates?
At what point do you activate the Crisis Response Team?
How can they be reached 24x7?Who is spokesperson?
Prioritizing Target Audiences
InsidersEmployees, suppliers, customers
GovernmentLocal, state and federal regulators and
lawmakersNeighborsMedia to reach community
Prioritize from the inside out
Employees
Shareholders
Suppliers, customers
Government
Local, state and federal regulators and lawmakers
Neighbors
Media to reach community
The Role of PR
InvestigatorConfidantTruth tellerForecasterDo GooderImplementer
Investigator
Confidant
Truth Teller
Forecaster
Do Gooder
Implementer
The Dirty Little Secret Is…
We think CEOs haveit under control
The Dirty Little Secret Is…
But our deference to CEOs hurts them in a crisis
What Malcolm Gladwell Says
Communication in a Crisis
According to Gladwell:
“(Crises) are likely to be the result of an accumulation of minor difficulties and seemingly trivial malfunctions.”
- Outliers, pg 183
Example: Three Mile Island
Example: Three Mile Island
The Problem: Routine water blockage Moisture leaks into plant’s air system Then the accumulation of minor difficulties
1. Trips two valves, shutting down flow of cold water to steam generator
2. Valves for backup cooling system weren’t open3. Hanging tag in control room blocked view of indicator4. Backup relief valve stuck open5. Gauge in control room that should have warned of a
problem wasn’t working
Learn from Plane Crashes
Gladwell writes:
“The kinds of errors that cause plane crashes are invariably errors of teamwork and communication.”
- Outliers, Pg 184
Avianca Flight 052
An accumulation of little thingsMalfunctioning autopilotBad weatherLong flightMisunderstandings with FAAPoor communication in the cockpit
Let’s climb aboard…
Mitigated Speech
An attempt to downplay or sugarcoat the meaning of what you are saying
“Some people have been slow to embrace our message.”
Lessons from Plane Crashes
Airlines now employ “Crew Resource Management” training
Teaches junior crew members how to communicate clearly and assertively
Mitigated Speech in PR
Example: You learn that children are getting hurt using your product
How does your
CEO learn of
your concerns?
What do you do?
Brief your boss and hope
Send an e-mail
Walk into his/her office
Schedule a meeting
Call his/her cell phone
What do you say?
Let’s get the distributors on the phone
The switchboardis lighting up
Get the product off the shelf now
Who should we notify first about a recall
I think we may want to issue
a recall
Learning to be Assertive
A short video
Credit: Video Arts
What Keeps CEOs Awake?
Source: PriceWaterhouseCoopers 12th Annual Global CEO Survey
What We Know About CEOs
CEOs want the insights of key advisors
CEOs expect change CEOs feel less in
control CEOs value
reputation and customers
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
ChangedSuccessfully in
the Past
ExpectSubstantial
Change
CEOs: Know Change is Needed
Percentage of CEOs who say their organizations face substantial change vs. ability to manage change
Source: IBM Global CEO Study
IBM’s Analysis
Constant change is certainly not new. But companies are struggling with its
accelerating pace. Everything around them
seems to be changing faster than they can. As one U.S. CEO told us,
“We are successful, but slow.”
Source: IBM Global CEO Study
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Socialresponsibility
Ability toadapt
Brand andReputation
Key Talent
Not at all
Not very
Important
Critical
CEOs: Keys to Competitiveness
How important are the following sources of competitive advantage in sustaining your growth over the long term?
Source: PriceWaterhouseCoopers 12th Annual Global CEO Survey
CEOs Need a Paddle
Suddenly everything is important. And change can come from anywhere.
CEOs find themselves – as one CEO put it – in a “white-water world.”
Source: IBM Global CEO Study
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Low-CostCompetition
Key Skills
Over-Regulation
EconomicDownturn
Not at all
Not very
Important
Critical
CEOs: Threats on the Radar
How concerned are you about the following threats in relation to your business growth prospects?
Source: PriceWaterhouseCoopers 12th Annual Global CEO Survey
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
NGOs
Media
LocalCommunities
Employees
Governmentand Regulators
Customers andClients
Weaker now
Stayed the same
Stronger now
CEOs: Growing Influence
To what extent has the influence of stakeholders who influence your decisions about the success of your business in the future, changed in the past three years?
Source: PriceWaterhouseCoopers 12th Annual Global CEO Survey
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
No Impact
Negative
Positive
CEOs: Impact of CSR
CEOs are generally positive about the impact of rising corporate social responsibility expectations.
Source: IBM Global CEO Study
Why PR “Doesn’t Get It”
Perceived as focusing on the “wrong things” We come across as wanting to be everyone’s
friend The families of the victims want answers Don’t want to leave a reporter hanging Don’t want our neighbors to be mad Employees are glum
We shy away from numbers
The Art of Giving Advice
Be positiveEliminate criticismUrge prompt actionFocus on outcomesBe an incrementalistBe pragmaticBe a strategic force
- James Lukaszewski, http://www.e911.com/monos/articles/article-leader-to-leader-fall-2008.pdf
Case Study: Baby Seat Maker
Millions soldCustomers injuredCEO blamed the
parentsPR’s role: negotiated
terms of recall
Case Study: Pharma
Made compounds for doctors nationwide
Patients died CEO argued that doctors,
patients and the coroner may have erred
PR’s role: apology and process improvements
Case Study: Retail
Respected college town retailer
Sued by university for trademark infringement
CEO attacked judge’s character
PR’s role: get students involved
Summary
The CEO: PR is a comb over
To be an equal, think like onePlan aheadSeek the truthSpeak the truthStrengthen your
relationship now
Questions/Discussion
Download this presentation at http://slideshare.com/dpkpr
Also: E-mail: dan@dpkpr.com Phone: 214-432-7556 Web: www.dpkpr.com Blog: www.theprcounselor-blog.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/dpkpr
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