Service

Crisis Communications Planning

A crisis will happen when you least expect it. Are you prepared?

Talk with us View the crisis checklist
  • Plan — a practical, usable crisis communications plan (not a binder that collects dust)
  • Training — hands-on spokesperson + leadership readiness sessions
  • Support — calm, senior guidance when the world goes sideways
Crisis communications support and preparedness

Why crisis readiness matters

Most organizations don’t have a tangible plan for communicating when a crisis occurs. That typically leads to a disorganized, unfocused response — and public confidence drops fast.

We help you prepare before the crisis hits, and we can come alongside your team when it does.

Crisis Communications Plan

A clear, step-by-step plan your team can follow under pressure — including roles, approvals, audiences, holding statements, and escalation paths.

  • Stakeholder mapping + message priorities
  • Spokesperson guidance and guardrails
  • Draft statements + templates

Leadership + Spokesperson Training

We prepare senior leaders to communicate with clarity and confidence when emotions are high and information is moving fast.

  • On-camera / interview readiness
  • Q&A drills and message discipline
  • Social + internal communications alignment

Crisis Response Support

When the “stomach-jolting, world-in-a-blur” moment hits, we help you stabilize, prioritize, and communicate proactively.

  • Rapid messaging + response structure
  • Media strategy across channels
  • Stakeholder updates and timing guidance

Building a Crisis Communications Plan

If you don’t have a plan that identifies solutions to issues like these, we can help you build one.

  • Who approves messaging when leadership is unavailable?
  • Who is authorized to speak publicly?
  • What’s your internal update cadence?
  • Do you have pre-drafted holding statements?
  • How will you monitor, correct, and update information?
Request help building your plan

What strong organizations do differently

When the phones start ringing and social feeds start moving, the answer is never “no comment.” Strong organizations communicate early, clearly, and consistently — before critics define the narrative.

Our goal is to help you protect trust, reduce confusion, and emerge from the crisis stronger than before.

Crisis communications best practices

Avoid jargon
In a crisis, clarity wins. Technical accuracy matters, but plain English matters more. Use experts as resources — and choose a spokesperson who can communicate simply and confidently.
Don’t assume your reputation can “take it”
Even strong reputations can be damaged by a disorganized response. Be proactive, communicate early, and keep key stakeholders informed.
Use the right assets for each medium
TV needs visuals. Radio needs clean audio. Print needs quotes and context. Social is often video-first — and include the text of what’s said for accessibility and clarity.
Match the emotion of the moment
“Just the facts” can fail when stakeholders are angry, afraid, or grieving. Facts + empathy together help restore trust.
Don’t wait for the media to call
If you wait, someone else defines the narrative first. Communicate as soon as the crisis is confirmed — ideally before stakeholders learn about it from critics.
Share as much information as possible
The “drip, drip, drip” effect undermines credibility. Share what you can early, explain what you’re still verifying, and commit to updates on a clear cadence.

Build your plan before you need it

If you’re not confident your organization is prepared, contact us. We’ll help you create a plan, train your leaders, and communicate decisively when it counts.

Contact us