Crying Wolf Pt. 1 – When a Crisis Really Isn’t

Erik Bernstein crisis management

  [Editor’s note: This compelling blog series comes to us from international crisis management expert and Bernstein Crisis team member Tim Scerba.] When a Crisis Really Isn’t In Aesop’s famous tale, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, a shepherd boy convinces his neighbors that a ferocious wolf is attacking his flock …

[Guest Post] Outlook 2019: Toward An Active, Accountable Apology

Erik Bernstein crisis management

  [Editor’s note: The following article by Chris Lukach was originally published in the Philly Ad News January edition. It shares an interesting account of a problem many crisis management pros encounter, along with a much-needed wakeup call for communicators everywhere. Enjoy!] OUTLOOK 2019: TOWARD AN ACTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE APOLOGY By …

3 Tips on Public Speaking from the Experts

Erik Bernstein crisis management

Improving your ability to deliver the often-intimidating media interview or public statement According to Psychology Today, people are more afraid of public speaking than death. I see you nodding your heads out there, and to be honest when I first started practicing the skill I felt the same. While it’s …

Crisis Management Quotables…on Connecting From The Heart

Erik Bernstein crisis management

At the core of every message we create for crisis situations are our Three C’s of Credibility – Confidence, Competence, and Compassion. Without displaying these three items any crisis communication is bound to fall flat, and for the most part people get the first two C’s in their messaging. What’s …

How Do Celebrities Like Kanye West Survive Controversy?

Erik Bernstein crisis management

Celebrity controversy is constantly in the news, but why is it some public figures take more lasting damage than others? Celebrity controversy seems to drive the internet today. Why, though, are some reputations seemingly bulletproof while others are practically obliterated after their first controversial encounter? In a recent interview with …

When Will CEOs Make Proper Use Of Social Media?

Erik Bernstein crisis management

[Editor’s note: This guest post comes to us from frequent contributor – and our go-to crisis expert “down under” – Tony Jaques. This time around Tony dives into the dollars and sense behind CEOs engaging on social media in the face of barriers like lack of time, competing priorities, low …

Musings on Measuring Corporate Reputation

Erik Bernstein crisis management, reputation management

[Editor’s note: We love hearing about how other seasoned experts think. Though methods vary, the minds behind those who have risen to the top of their respective fields are typically incredibly interesting, not to mention containing knowledge anyone can use. To that effect, enjoy this quote from a The Measurement …

Keeping Your Eye on the Ball during a Crisis

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Crisis management mistakes can cost you. In this guest post Tim Scerba, multinational reputation and crisis management expert, explains a deceptively simple problem that impacts crisis teams around the world. There is a lot going on during a crisis training. The Crisis Management Team (CMT) is sifting through real-time information …

Too Close to See: Why Amazon’s Handling of Whole Foods Could Lead to Crisis

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It’s a common occurrence for a crisis management pro – you’re brought into a case, start asking questions, and immediately spot red flags so blatant it seems impossible they were missed. Yet, more often than not, there’s no willful ignorance at work. In this new monthly series we’ll look at organizations …

When advertising is created without crisis management consideration

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Why you have to consider the negative when making ad decisions How did an Australian clothing company wind up sending thousands of customers a marketing email that threatened to release compromising photos of them “everywhere”? While the idea is shocking, the way it most likely came to happen isn’t unusual. …

The Starbucks Incident: a crisis management case study

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The Starbucks incident: a crisis management case study By Rick Kelly May 18. 2018 — Given the heightened sensitivity to racial bias issues these days, is it possible for even a socially responsible organization to manage its way through a racially charged crisis with its reputation intact? The Starbucks incident …

The 5 Conundrums of Media Relations

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Over decades of dealing with the media in high-pressure situations we’ve come to realize that the rules many people assume reporters must follow simply don’t exist. In fact, what we’ve seen again and again is that reporters simply don’t follow the same rules they expect the subjects of their stories …

Crisis Management Quotables…on Readiness

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Be prepared, work hard, and hope for a little luck. Recognize that the harder you work and the better prepared you are, the more luck you might have. — Ed Bradley Fast responses happen because you were ready. Fast recoveries happen because you were ready. We divide crisis management into two …

The #MeToo Backlash — The Crisis is Just Beginning

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Why every organization is vulnerable to #MeToo allegations When humans are oppressed and repressed long enough and finally find a channel for venting their feelings, for finding justice, we sometimes overreact.  Riots occur, with innocent individual and businesses damaged (or worse).  Sometimes entire governments are brought down by such action …