Some thoughts on the news...

2007 had more than its fair share of disasters, locally, nationally and globally.

From a credit crisis that needed the central banks to intervene, amidst warnings of a global recession looming, to more local stories such as the hotel fire in Cornwall, the Virgin train crash in Northern England, a host of plane crashes, outbreaks of foot and mouth and blue tongue virus in the UK, to extensive flooding across much of the UK Midlands.

For the London police force, inquest findings of poor control-room command and communication that led to the shooting of an innocent Brazilian on the London Tube did nothing for their reputation.

It was a year that offered many lessons in communications for senior executives.

Preparing for a presentation on crisis media planning, it was fascinating to note that the headlines of 2007 are justification enough for ensuring that all organisations create a tried and tested crisis media plan and develop a bank of spokespeople who know what to say, how to say it and importantly, when to say it.

How often in our busy schedules do we look at what has, could and might happen and ask, “Could it happen to us and our organisation?”…. And if it did, “Do we have a response system that can protect the reputation and image of the organisation, into which we have invested so much time, money and effort?”

Providing executive coaching, we can and do ask these questions – and we have ceased to be amazed by the range of responses. This summer’s floods saw organisations that had put their IT and telephone systems in their basement, “for security”, have little defence against the sort of flash flooding we saw in the UK in 2007. They were put it out of action within minutes, as were mobile phone networks that became overloaded.

No communication means staff need alternative systems to cope. IT backup systems require detailed planning and secure alternative accommodation. It can be expensive, but simple command and control systems can be planned and set up easily by the communications team in alternative premises - but only work well if they are thought about, planned and tested in advance!

Power losses left many employees and managers looking at blank PC screens. They had no idea how to set up emergency contact systems to ensure that they could use the media to let customers, suppliers and their staff know what was happening and provide alternative ways to contact them or get updates on the situation.

Losing water and power supplies, in some cases for several weeks, made the impact of the floods that much worse for those who hadn’t planned their communications, supply, service and manufacturing systems to provide alternative options. And of those that had, very few had staff trained to operate the systems in practice. They will be counting the cost for some considerable time to come.

To find out how we can help with crisis media communication, management and training, please contact us at info@media-training-masterclasses.co.uk or telephone +44 1386 859 664