Crisis Communications

Communicating in a crisis is a challenge – what to say, how much, and keeping all parties in touch with each other so that you come out of the crisis intact. The articles this week will examine many of the aspects of crisis communications in order to help you make and/or refine your communication plans.

This white paper examines why companies should develop and implement an on-demand conferencing and collaboration plan that supports business continuity. (Item #1) Here’s how to create an effective one-page communications map for your CEO or other spokesperson. (Item #2) How do you go about selecting a crisis communication system? (Item #3)

In a crisis, you have to be able to communicate the decisions you make to assure business continuity. (Item #4) Media training might be a critical part of your crisis communication strategy. (Item #5) Here’s what you need to know about continuity planning for telecomm systems. (Item #6)

As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If you have a topic you’d like to see covered, just let me know.


For the full issue or a look at back issues, go to http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why

Just finished reading a very enlightening book --- The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why by Amanda Ripley

It is a truly insightful look at how real people dealt with real crises. From plane crashes to terrorism to natural disasters. Fight, Flight or Freeze? Hero or Victim? Many people think panic will be the primary reaction, but the facts in this book show otherwise.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Reputation Management

Managing your organization’s reputation is one of the most critical activities today and it’s also labor intensive. You have to build the reputation, manage it, and, if anything bad happens, hope your hard work can recover it. This week’s articles offer some ideas on how to protect that valuable reputation.

Did Toyota wait too long to address its safety issues? (Item #1) The more positive your reputation before a crisis, the more likely you are to survive it. (Item #2) If you don’t control your brand online, someone else surely will. (Item #3)

Who is your organization’s Chief Reputation Officer? (Item #4) It’s critical to pay attention to what search engines tell your potential customers, members or clients. (Item #5) The most important asset you have to protect is your organization’s reputation. (Item #6) 


Read it all at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Risk Management

Risk applies to any management decision that could have a negative result. Even with a negative result, the outcome could have been mitigated with good risk management. You need to evaluate – as much as possible -- all the possible results of any decision and determine how risk can be reduced. This week’s articles can help with these efforts.

Simply having the tools and structure may not be enough to insulate your nonprofit from the cold breezes and after-shocks of unmanaged risks. (Item #1) Obtaining an independent review of your volunteer policies before you implement them is an excellent risk management strategy. (Item #2) Managing special event risks requires equal measures of awareness, planning, diligence and team work. (Item #3)

A good Risk Management System will help you reap the rewards of your efforts to set up and run your business. (Item #4) To change the way we think about risk, we must avoid making six mistakes. (Item #5) Data breaches-the theft, loss or unintended exposure of personally identifiable information-have compromised hundreds of millions of personal records in recent years. (Item #6)

The entire issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Shelter in Place

Just a couple of weeks ago, a chemical leak in Pasadena, Texas, forced a Shelter-in-Place (SIP) situation in the surrounding area. This particular SIP order lasted only about four hours, but it could have been worse. At the same time, a gas leak in a San Jose neighborhood also prompted an SIP situation. As you can see, you seldom have any warning of a disruption that can cause you to be ordered to shelter in place. It makes sense, therefore, to be prepared. The following articles can help in your preparations.

There are many difficult aspects of the shelter-in-place process. (Item #1) Here is a general guide for preparing a shelter in place plan in the workplace (Item #2) What must landlord do in the event of an SIP order? (Item #3)

These event-specific guidelines can help in an SIP situation. (Item #4) Portable air cleaners that can filter out toxic gas are making shelter-in-place safe rooms even safer. (Item #5) Our last item is a series to links to supplies of SIP equipment and supplies. (Item #6)

Get the full issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs