Crisis Management

You've likely heard the saying, "Hope for the best; plan for the worst." This could've been written with crisis management in mind. In business, this is about being prepared for worst-case scenarios. In this program, we'll talk about what these worst-case scenarios might be, including the various types of crises that impact organizations. We'll also go over how to plan and coordinate a response to a crisis. This includes having an emergency response plan, a crisis communications plan, and an IT disaster plan.

Experts estimate that nearly half of all businesses affected by disaster, whether natural or man made, never reopen. It's basically a 50/50 chance that a business faced with a crisis will outlast the event. Those are scary odds, which is why preparation is so important. In this course, we'll go over some practical steps that organizations can take to get prepared for a crisis. We'll discuss preventative maintenance on facilities, databases, and equipment. We'll go over how to create an emergency supply kit to keep on hand. We'll cover ways to properly communicate information during and after a crisis, and lastly, we'll explain how to raise awareness to spot warning signs of potential trouble.

Natural disasters come in many forms. There are thunderstorms, blizzards, hurricanes, and heat waves to consider. Then there are geological disasters, like earthquakes and volcanoes to contend with. How organizations should prepare for these types of events varies greatly depending upon location, industry, and other factors. However, there are some similarities in response strategies, regardless of the type of disaster. In order to respond, you must know what to do before, during, and after the event. That's what we'll cover in this program.

Most workdays are routine, but emergencies can strike at any time. Businesses and employees need to be prepared to handle worst-case scenarios.

What this course covers:

• Common emergencies organizations experience
• Safeguards companies should have in place
• What to do before emergency responders arrive
• Implementing and executing an emergency response plan

Finish ready to act calmly and effectively in an emergency.

If a crisis struck, could your organization keep serving customers and paying staff? This course helps you put a solid business continuity plan in place.

What this course covers:

• Assessing risks your organization faces
• Running a business impact analysis
• The core components of a business continuity plan
• Keeping operations running when disaster strikes

You will leave with a framework to protect your business through disruption.

Media presence after a crisis can be unavoidable. The treatment your company receives by the media and the resulting public opinion, however, is partly within your control. In this course, we'll go over best practices for handling media inquiries. We'll cover assembling a crisis communication team, choosing a spokesperson, and addressing the situation. We'll also talk about how to handle employees who are contacted by the media, what to do with your company's social media accounts, and the various ways to release information to the media.

Many companies have dealt with crises and taken hits to their brands, as a result. Workplace catastrophes, data breaches, executive scandals, etc., can all deeply impact a company's reputation, resulting in loss of trust and revenue. Organizations can't necessarily prevent crises, but they can manage the way they respond and protect the brand. In this program, we'll talk about managing your brand's image during and after a crisis. We'll go over analyzing the company's current brand and tone, creating and maintaining a crisis messaging plan, and monitoring and responding to comments and reactions from the public.