Crisis Communications Consulting
When the story is moving faster than your internal decision-making, you need calm counsel. We help you triage the moment, align leadership, and communicate clearly across media, social, and internal channels.
This service is for organizations in the middle of a crisis situation. If you’re looking to build a plan, templates, and training in advance, use the Crisis Communications Planning page.
Build a plan
In a crisis, minutes matter
The first message and the first update cadence often decide whether stakeholders give you the benefit of the doubt—or assume the worst. We help you move fast without guessing, overpromising, or hiding behind jargon.
Immediate goal
Stabilize the narrative
Next goal
Create a response rhythm
Ongoing goal
Maintain credibility
What we do in the first 72 hours
We create order under pressure—so your leaders stop scrambling and your stakeholders get clear, timely communication.
1) Rapid triage & leadership alignment
- Confirm what’s known (and what isn’t)
- Assign roles, approvals, and spokespeople
- Set an update cadence
2) First statement + message kit
- Holding statement (plainspoken, accurate)
- Talking points + Q&A
- What we know / what we’re verifying / what’s next
3) Media + social response strategy
- Channel-specific assets (TV / radio / print / social)
- Interview prep + guardrails
- Misinformation correction plan
4) Internal comms that don’t drift
- Employee update copy
- Leader-ready internal script
- Frontline FAQ
5) Stakeholder-specific updates
- Boards, donors, customers, parents, partners
- Right level of detail at the right time
- Timing recommendations
6) Ongoing counsel as facts evolve
- Prevent the “drip, drip, drip” credibility drain
- Update planning and pivots
- Consistency across every channel
Our rule in one line
Tell the truth, quickly and clearly—with empathy—and commit to the next update time.
- No jargon
- No “no comment” reflex
- No guessing—only confirmed facts + clear next steps
Common failure points
- Leaders aren’t aligned, so messages drift
- One channel is fed while others go silent
- Stakeholders learn from critics first
- New details emerge daily and credibility erodes
Get counsel now
We can help you stabilize the moment and communicate with discipline.
If instead, you’re looking for crisis prevention and planning, have a look at our Crisis Communications Planning page.