Treading the same path - again and again
Under Pressure 15 May 2026
Treading the same path - again and again
There is a much used quote attributed to Einstein that says “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” It makes sense. Why would we just hope that things will change and improve if we don’t make an active effort to do something about it. This is raising its head a lot for me during 2026.
Every public inquiry brings with it points where we need to learn, develop and change and that is for communication and not just operational activity. But where does it go? Who picks up the information and does something with it? Who ensures that those working in communication understand where failings have happened and what caused them? It isn’t just the big inquiries but there are a whole range of events that should be understood and dissected so that the same path is not walked again and again.
There are many working in the communication and emergency space that try to share the important points that are featured in reports and the academic research. But this can be a drop in a very wide ocean.
We are all experiencing a very challenging and chaotic world with significant uncertainty. This is being intensified by a hyper-connected public who struggle to understand why the same problems are emerging time after time. With all the technology we have available there has still not been a way of creating a central source for key updates on what needs to change. I am sure there would be a question over the independence of such a repository as well.
I am starting to think that the big stumbling block is not the creation of a repository but the willingness of people to change and in some cases throw away the old plans to create new ones. Maybe that is what we need to focus on. We need to cut through the day-to-day challenges and pressures to find a way to promote the importance of training and development so we can avoid heading down the same path that hasn’t worked before.
This is a conversation we need to have and continue which is why Professor Lucy Easthope and I will be considering it at a June event (see below).
Where did it all go wrong? A conversation between Professor Lucy Easthope and Amanda Coleman
Amanda and Professor Lucy Easthope are back with another of the free online discussions. This time the focus is on why things are going wrong and continuing to be repeated over and over again. It should be an interesting discussion with lots of chance to raise issues and share questions. It is free, online and takes place at 6.30pm on Monday 29 June.
You can register to join the session here.
10 Minutes With
The series has returned with the latest discussion between Dr Julia Pearce and Professor Atiya Kamal and Amanda. They are the developers of the TAPIE model to assist with communication before, during and after communicable disease outbreaks. The work is beneficial for all involved in crisis and emergency communication. Find out what TAPIE stands for and more about it here. Watch for more 10 Mins With in the coming days.
Independent Impact Awards
Amanda was delighted to be recognised in the Independent Impact 50 Awards at the start of the month. It is the second year she featured in the list of top independent communicators and follows on the recognition with the Strategic Global Awards 26. Find out more here.
Watch if you missed - Meet the Author
Amanda this week was in conversation with CEO of VMA Group for their Meet The Author series talking about her last book Strategic Reputation Management. Find out what she said here.
In Brief:
Amanda has written two articles that appeared in the latest edition of Crisis Response Journal. The first was a discussion of the findings of the women in crisis and resilience that was published in early 2026. Read it here. The second was a report from a conversation with campaigner Figen Murray OBE.
The impact of social media crises is considered in a new book from Duncan Koerber which provides a look at how social media platforms have become the place of digital disasters. Find out more here.
EMEAA President Dan Stoneking talks about a perennial problem when approval processes create problematic delays. Read more here of the article on the Homeland Security website.
Amanda outlined some key principles about rebuilding reputation after considering the challenges facing the UK Prime Minister after devastating local election results. Read the blog here.
In a reminder of the importance of understanding supply networks and vulnerabilities, a fire in a data centre in the Netherlands left a university and infrastructure out of operation. Read more here.
The latest edition of Testing Times considers the management of personal data and communication when it things go wrong. Find the May 2026 edition and more than 70 others here.
Diary Dates:
The next training session Amanda is running is on Tuesday 19 May at 2pm BST and will be looking at effective crisis communication messaging. Get in touch at office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk to book a space.
Tuesday 16 June at 9.30am Amanda is running a half day workshop to give the basics of crisis communication. Contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for information.