Crisis Communication

Communicate, communicate, communicate... it's one of the most important things to do in any crisis situation – with staff, with the public, with the media and with any other stakeholders. Communications is one area where a lot of organizations fail when they test their plans. This week's articles can help change that "fail" to a "pass."

It's been said that everyone's IQ drops in a crisis... here are some rules that can help minimize this problem. (Item #1) Here's an explanation of how your crisis communication plan can work to protect your organization. (Item #2) Branding experts give their best tips on how to handle public outrage resulting from a crisis. (Item #3)

There's no question that emotions run high in a crisis; here's how to handle yours and everyone else's. (Item #4) In today's 24-hour news cycle, you have to be prepared ahead of time to deal with a crisis. (Item #5) It's no overstatement to say that communicating risk to public audiences can seem like a tricky business. (Item #6)

Testing and Training

One of the reasons that disaster recovery and business continuity plans fail is they often are not updated, tested, or employees are not trained in how to use them. Don't be one of those organizations that only becomes a believer in testing after a disaster in which plans didn't work. Heed the advice in this week's articles and rest assured that your plan will do what it's designed for.

If you want to be ready for a disaster, you must test your plan. (Item #1) Can your organization take a lickin' and keep on tickin'? (Item #2) Testing your plan requires management support, time for preparation and execution, funding, careful planning... here's how. (Item #3)

Simulations are not a science. In fact simulations are, for better or for worse, an art. (Item #4) Hurricane season is upon us, and you should be asking yourself if your Disaster Recovery (DR) plan can help you recover if needed. (Item #5) Disaster recovery planning is an ongoing, never ending process that should include quarterly reviews and annual tests. (Item #6)

Social Media and Business Continuity

There are many pros and cons of using social media in business, including the concern about what to do if things go wrong. Many businesses today, however, are integrating social media into their Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery plans and activities. Read on to learn more about this evolving trend.

The use of social media as a business continuity tool is a trend on the upswing. (Item #1) HR professionals, should update their business continuity plans to include social media. (Item #2) Today’s consensus is that it is now a “smart practice” to include SM in BCP and COOP programs. (Item #3)

Twitter allows users to quickly and efficiently interact with one another 140 characters at a time through what is called a “tweet.” (Item #4) There’s a wrong and right way to handle a social media disaster. (Item #5) Two women in Missouri got on Facebook and helped after the Joplin tornado. (Item #6)