How to Deal With Crisis in the Workplace

Communication is key to effective crisis management in the workplace

An effective crisis communication plan is vital for addressing both natural and man-made crises. Common examples of crisis situations include fires, floods, theft of medical data, lawsuits, and more. A well-prepared plan will help you manage the crisis and protect your organization's brand and credibility. Below are three key factors to consider when planning a crisis communication plan. To ensure your plan's success, review it on a regular basis.

Communicate information quickly and accurately. Communicate information that informs people what to do and how to protect their physical wellbeing. If you're unable to communicate the facts quickly, you will create a negative impression. Inconsistent information can cause confusion and erode trust. Make sure to distribute information quickly and accurately, and avoid using ambiguous language.

You must also keep the message clear and simple.

Plan how to reach key audiences. Key audiences, like journalists, like to be "clued in" on the latest developments. They can carry important messages and have the power to increase the impact of positive social media posts. Maintain open lines of communication with key stakeholders, particularly employees and the media. For example, public officials are often asked about issues affecting major employers in their areas. Public officials who don't understand the issues can be detrimental to message discipline and reputation.

Have a crisis communication plan. Communicate information about a crisis clearly and often to all employees. This will ensure that everyone is aware of the situation and the proper steps to take. Employees should know who to contact and where to go for help. It's also important to have a clear plan that will help you minimize employee fears and keep employees safe. If you don't create a crisis communication plan, it may cause more problems than it solves.

Establish a clear message for employees. Employees are your most important public, so make sure they can understand the situation and feel heard. This means communicating with all employees using the appropriate internal communications channels. In some instances, an email or an intranet are not enough. Likewise, an intranet is not reliable for crisis communications. They may not receive important information during a power outage, so use the right channels to get the word out.

Remember that no organization is perfect, and every crisis will happen. Sometimes the crisis will come on you suddenly and without warning. For example, three workplace shootings occurred in the U.S. in 2018 alone. These events can send your employees into a frenzy. However, there are ways to prepare for such a crisis and ensure that they are informed and supported during the crisis. Communication is critical for any crisis, whether it occurs before or after it occurs.

Employees should know how to communicate with each other during a crisis. Organizations should publish a procedure to notify employees of any crisis and who is responsible for communication. If there are multiple audiences involved, it is vital to have a formal plan documenting the entire process. Communication is the key to effective crisis management in the workplace. The steps above can make the crisis communication process less stressful. If you are in charge of crisis communications, make sure employees know how to communicate during a crisis.
Identifying additional individuals who support each functional leader

While crisis management teams include key functional leaders and other stakeholders, they are not complete without additional individuals to back them up. These individuals can be drawn from a variety of functions, including HR, finance, legal, and payroll. Additionally, they can include members of other departments to ensure that a company's resources are available to address the needs of employees. A crisis management team may consist of more than one person, but they all have the common goal of guiding the organization through the crisis.