Communicating in Crisis: Lessons from the Gulf of Mexico
May 26th, 2010 by Debbie Schramm. Posted in Industry Expertise
As oil continues to flow from an accident that occurred in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the reputation of one of the world’s largest corporations, along with the reputation of an entire industry, are at stake.
Most companies and industries will never have to face a crisis of this magnitude; however, the BP incident of 2010 will no doubt serve as a case study for business and organization leaders and public relations practitioners for years to come.
This is just one reminder that it is critical for companies and organizations to prepare for crisis, not only from an operational and safety standpoint, but also from a communications perspective. I am sure there will be ongoing assessment of BP’s operational and communications responses.
A few early thoughts on their crisis communications-
- Safety: British Petroleum said they placed top priority on the safety of their workers, but comments from those aboard the rig are positive and negative. Lesson: The safety of your workers, neighbors and the general public must be top priority in everything you do. It’s not enough to just say it – it must be true. Also, remember your most important audience is your employees and their family members – don’t forget internal communications.
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