Uncertainty needs preparedness
Uncertainty needs preparedness
Under Pressure 11 October 2022
Uncertain future requires careful planning
In a recent article The Guardian newspaper considered the comments from the IMF chief about what she called a ‘fundamental shift’ from relative stability. (Read it here) The cost-of-living crisis, impact post-Covid, Russian war in Ukraine and climatic disasters have made the future more problematic.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said we face: “greater uncertainty, higher economic volatility, geopolitical confrontations, and more frequent and devastating natural disasters – a world in which any country can be thrown off course more easily and more often”.
The world has been through a period of relative stability, but this was brought to a grinding halt when the pandemic emerged in 2020. Our mindset needs to fundamentally change, so that we are not looking backwards wistfully but are planning for the future.
It is at such times of chaos that planning and preparing for any problems that may lie ahead become even more important. This is the time when crisis communication plans need to be up-to-date and ready to use. It is a time when people need focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t. It is a time when effective communication is critical to provide some certainty within the uncertainty.
Preparedness is not something that we need to just focus on when we have time, when things are running well, and when problems are in the distance. Now is the right time to consider risks, look at plans and aim to get more prepared and resilient to face the future.
Crises don’t neatly happen one after the other as we are starting to realise. It makes it vital for crisis communication plans to be able to weather more than one problem and to navigate through turbulent times. Rather than feeling downhearted and deflated, now is the time to redouble efforts to be prepared.
*If you need help to be prepared for the future get in touch with Amanda at amanda@amandacolemancomms.co.uk
New Crisis Scenario Training Session
Readers of the Under Pressure newsletter are the first to learn about a new crisis scenario training session that Amanda Coleman is providing. The session will run virtually for two hours and will put your decision making about communication during a crisis to the test, as well as giving you the chance to learn and go away with top tips to introduce at work.
Participants will become the communicators leading the response to a crisis that emerges and will face a series of challenges as the events unfold. The aim is to provide a quick refresher or a starting point for further development for busy communicators.
Amanda said: “The scenario will be a risk that every business faces and will be a way of learning in a safe environment. I am concerned that with budget pressures this important training will become a luxury rather than a necessity. My aim is to keep it affordable and manageable within busy diaries.”
The session will take place in late November and places will be strictly limited so if you want to book a spot get in touch at amanda@amandacolemancomms.co.uk The cost of the two-hour session will be £50.
Book Countdown
It is less than a month before Amanda’s second book Everyday Communication Strategies: Manage Common Issues to Prevent a Crisis and Protect your Brand. The book is a prequel to the successful Crisis Communication Strategies first published in May 2020. It considers how to more effectively manage those issues that emerge every day, early intervention, and being ready to escalate action.
If you want to pre-order find out more at publisher of the book Kogan Page’s website, or on Amazon.
Fuel crisis could lead to emergency blackouts in UK
The UK is considering contingency plans for the winter to manage possible fuel shortages. It follows much of Europe developing and discussing similar plans in recent months.
For a useful article looking at the planning and legislation read this from The Telegraph via MSN.
New advisory firm launches
Amanda is delighted to announce that she will be supporting the newly created advisory firm River Effra that launched on 5 October. To find out more about the work and the team click here.
In Brief:
Police in Kuala Lumpur were forced to issue a clarification that they had not circulated a warning on social media about the sale of body organs. The comment was being sent widely despite the suggested warning about two vehicles being inaccurate. Read more here.
The latest edition of the monthly crisis communication case study Testing Times has been published. The focus is on the UK Government U-turn in relation to tax changes. Email amanda@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for a copy.
Amanda was pleased to be among international business leaders congratulating Maxim Behar on his recognition as best PR professional in Europe in the PR Week awards. Find out more here.
In a recent blog post Amanda considered the role of communication within politics. Find out what she concluded and why here.
If you are interested in the resilience of supply chains new research by Wincanton may be something to check out. Find out more here.
Diary Dates:
Friday 14 October - Amanda will be talking about modern crisis communication and how to build resilience on the concluding day of Commshero Week. Find out more here.
Thursday 10 and Friday 11 November - Amanda is running a crisis communication masterclass as part of the Westco Academy. Find out more here.