Crisis communications: ten situations, ten responses
Practical analysis for initial decisions, information for affected people and follow-through on commitments.
Ransomware crisis communications when your usual systems are unavailable
A cyber incident response must help affected people act even when normal email and business tools cannot be trusted. Communications connects technical evidence, management decisions and practical information.
Industrial accident communications: support protection without outrunning the facts
During a site accident, communications must make validated protective information accessible. Causes, responsibility and the timetable for restarting operations are separate questions requiring separate evidence.
Environmental incident communications: explain measurements and uncertainty
An odour, release or contamination raises immediate questions about exposure and responsibility. A credible response separates observations, available measurements, hypotheses and protective decisions.
Strike and labour dispute communications: inform without replacing dialogue
Labour dispute communications should preserve the possibility of discussion while providing reliable information about operations. It cannot negotiate on behalf of the parties or remove disagreement through wording.
Allegations against an executive: credible governance communications
An allegation involving a senior leader can undermine confidence in the company's controls. Communications must preserve the ability to establish facts without declaring a verdict or discrediting affected people.
Corporate disinformation campaigns: correct the record without amplifying manipulation
Companies must distinguish legitimate criticism, error and coordinated misleading activity. The right response depends on evidence, exposed audiences and potential harm, not message volume alone.
Geopolitical crisis communications across headquarters and subsidiaries
International tensions can affect people, operations, partners and reputation differently across countries. Communications should start with the company's actual responsibilities and confirmed decisions.
Supplier crisis communications: explain your responsibility without speculation
A supplier alert can challenge business continuity or social and environmental commitments. Calling the issue external does not explain how the company will respond.
Major service outage: keep customers informed while recovery continues
During an outage, customers first need to know whether they are affected, what alternatives exist and when they will hear more. Communications must reflect the actual condition of the service.
Greenwashing allegations: test the evidence before defending the narrative
An environmental controversy often concerns the gap between a public statement and its supporting evidence. Start with the exact claim, its scope and what an audience could reasonably understand.
Discuss your challenge
A short introduction is enough to start: your organisation, the decision at hand, the audiences involved and your deadline. Confidential documents can follow through an agreed channel.
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