Blog

How crisis management planning can ensure a happy new year

December 12, 2018 by Jonathan Hemus

shutterstock_75363706

Twelve months ago when Sir Philip Green set sail on superyacht Lionheart for an end of year voyage, he was not expecting the stormy waters which damaged his personal and corporate reputation following allegations of sexual misconduct.

As turkey and cranberry sandwiches flew off the shelves in the run up to Christmas 2017, Pret a Manger’s CEO Clive Schlee could hardly have imagined the criticism his much admired brand would face in late 2018 following the death of a 15 year old girl following an allergic reaction.

When TSB’s CEO Paul Pester reflected on the achievements of 2017, there was little reason to fear that TSB’s reputation for being more caring than its bigger banking rivals could be so catastrophically undermined by an IT outage just four months later.

Three successful businesses; three highly respected brands; three hugely experienced business leaders. Each brought to their knees by a major crisis.


Reputational risk

A crisis is the moment when everything you’ve ever worked for can be lost in the blink of an eye. As a business, your corporate reputation, the trust of your customers, your employee’s livelihoods and the value of your business are all jeopardised. Personally, you risk losing your good name, your employability, your self-esteem, the respect of peers and maybe even your relationships.  

It takes long time and hard work to build a business and personal reputation; a crisis has the power to destroy all of that value overnight.

Sadly, there is nothing you can do to guarantee your organisation will be crisis-free (though you can take steps to reduce its likelihood). Crises have no respect for reputation, size or fairness.


Crisis management training

So, what can you do to face the new year with confidence that a crisis cannot destroy everything you’ve ever worked for? Make a resolution to plan, train and rehearse for the kinds of events which could bring your business to its knees.

Crisis management planning might not be your most exciting Christmas gift ever, but it’s one whose value would be immeasurable if 2019 brings an unexpected crisis to your door.

 

Join us on 10 January for our first webinar of the new year, ‘Priorities for reputation and value protection in 2019’. We will be exploring key areas of focus for crisis management in 2019 to ensure your organisation can successfully navigate whatever the year throws at you.

Register here

image

Jonathan Hemus

Managing Director

View Profile

AWARDS

Insignia Award Icon

Winner of Consultancy of the Year at CIR Business Continuity Awards 2023

Insignia Award Icon

Finalists for Specialist Consultancy of the Year at CIR Business Continuity Awards 2020 & 2023

Insignia Award Icon

Finalists in 2023 Great British Entrepreneur Awards: Service Industries category

Insignia Award Icon

Winner Specialist Business Book of the Year 2021 at The Business Book Awards (Crisis Proof)

Insignia Award Icon

Finalists in the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards 2021: Purpose Before Profit category

Insignia Award Icon

Finalists in the Business Champion Awards 2021: Champions in a Crisis category

Insignia Award Icon

Finalists for Business Advisor of the Year at the 2021 Growing Business Awards

Insignia Award Icon

Shortlisted for BCI Europe Awards 2023: Continuity and Resilience Consultant category

Enquiry