Most crises an organization might face can be counted on one hand – two, tops. They follow a familiar arc: Day One response, Day Two fallout, ongoing management, eventual resolution and lessons learned.
The fundamentals of crisis communication still apply: be quick, be honest and show compassion. Do that and you increase the odds your stakeholders – those affected, those paying attention and those who can shape your future – see you as someone they can trust. Maybe even someone they’ll give the benefit of the doubt when things get rough.
And then there’s now.
The Constitution, the rule of law and most societal norms are either being ignored or actively shredded. Markets are whipsawing from one news cycle to the next. Allies are questioning our sanity. (Bomb Mexico? Really?) Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.
So what’s a company supposed to do?
Communicate with your employees.
In times like these, people naturally worry about their families, their future and yes, their jobs. The one thing you can offer them, even when you don’t have answers, is honesty.
A simple message like: “We’re watching what’s happening. We don’t yet know how it will affect us. As we learn more, we’ll share it with you. We’re all in this together.”
Even when there’s little concrete to report, that message says everything that matters: “We’re keeping the lines of communication open. You’ll hear from us first. And we will weather this as a team.”
Amid the noise, spin, ugliness and uncertainty, a leader’s honest communication becomes the one stabilizing force employees can count on.
In a time of chaos, clarity isn’t just kind. It’s leadership.