The word crisis comes from the Greek krisis, meaning "decision." We've all been there. Those moments when we're pressed in an instant to decide a course of action. Move to the left, or move to the right. Fight or flee. Offer an explanation, or dummy up tight.
It's a true test of what we are, either as a company or a person, how we handle ourselves in the middle of a crisis. The bad news is we never know for sure how we'll do until it's test time. The good news is we can prepare ourselves in principle.
There are three smart ways to approach crisis situations:
1) Avoid a crisis in the first place (a pinch of prevention is worth a mound of cure);
2) Quickly address and resolve crisis issues before they escalate;
3) Seek possible ways to turn your crisis into an opportunity.
CASE STUDY
It was in Los Angeles during a long drought, when a huge water pipe burst right in the middle of one of the busiest streets, the Ventura Boulevard, causing the road to split apart. Water flooded the street and sidewalks, closing all the businesses. The area was blocked off, so no customers could get to any of the businesses. But the news media were everywhere.
One of the businesses in the flood area was a hamburger restaurant called Mel’s Diner. Since he didn’t have any customers, Mel started giving away free hamburgers to the workers repairing the water pipe. The TV news crews took video of this, and that evening thousands of viewers saw a happy report on what a fine citizen Mel’s Diner is. For the cost of a few hamburgers, Mel got the kind of media coverage you just can’t buy, because he did the right thing at the right time.
Remember the old rule: the best defense is a good offense. And always look for a new opportunity in the middle of a crisis.
It's a true test of what we are, either as a company or a person, how we handle ourselves in the middle of a crisis. The bad news is we never know for sure how we'll do until it's test time. The good news is we can prepare ourselves in principle.
There are three smart ways to approach crisis situations:
1) Avoid a crisis in the first place (a pinch of prevention is worth a mound of cure);
2) Quickly address and resolve crisis issues before they escalate;
3) Seek possible ways to turn your crisis into an opportunity.
CASE STUDY
It was in Los Angeles during a long drought, when a huge water pipe burst right in the middle of one of the busiest streets, the Ventura Boulevard, causing the road to split apart. Water flooded the street and sidewalks, closing all the businesses. The area was blocked off, so no customers could get to any of the businesses. But the news media were everywhere.
One of the businesses in the flood area was a hamburger restaurant called Mel’s Diner. Since he didn’t have any customers, Mel started giving away free hamburgers to the workers repairing the water pipe. The TV news crews took video of this, and that evening thousands of viewers saw a happy report on what a fine citizen Mel’s Diner is. For the cost of a few hamburgers, Mel got the kind of media coverage you just can’t buy, because he did the right thing at the right time.
Remember the old rule: the best defense is a good offense. And always look for a new opportunity in the middle of a crisis.