We’ve seen many public figures in dire need of reputation management, from Hollywood starlets to Wall Street Bankers and sports superstars. The fastest way to get past these problems is to first accept responsibility and apologize, then demonstrate to the public that you have changed your ways. Of course, they have had varying degrees of success.
An excellent case study will be the way in which Michael Vick, exiting federal prison after serving 19 months on a dogfighting conviction, approaches these crucial steps. A recent NPR article provided some professional opinions:
For the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, the most important thing is to show “genuine remorse” for his crimes, says Marc Ippolito of Burns Entertainment.
“He can’t overdo it, and it can’t seem rehearsed,” says Glenn Selig, who specializes in crisis management public relations at The Publicity Agency. Selig, whose high-profile clients include the disgraced former governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, warns that “people will be parsing his every word and wonder if he is just doing what he has to do to get back in the game.”
Crisis management rules tend to apply to individuals in much the same way they do businesses – openness and a genuine desire to change will go a long way to put you back in society’s good graces. Make a halfhearted effort, though, and people will take their time and money elsewhere.
JB
Jonathan Bernstein
www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com