The Toyota and BP debacles have once again shown us the consequences of organisations failing to manage a crisis effectively. The tragedy is that it was all so avoidable. In cash terms these crises can be counted in billions of dollars but unfortunately the consequences will ripple on for many years – a high price to pay for failing to manage relatively simple crisis scenarios. It is amazing how much time and money is spent on developing and discussing strategy compared to developing the skills needed to implement it or manage it if things go horribly wrong. The rules of crisis management are really quite simple.
Prepare for the unexpected
It may be an unpleasant thought but if you run an airline (like in the case of the three largest number of passengers carrying airlines in the world: Delta Air Lines – which carried 162.6 million passengers in FY2010; United Airlines – which carried 145.6 million passengers in FY 2010; and Southwest Airlines – which carried 131 million passengers), the chances are that one of your planes might crash one day. You would have definitely heard of plane crashes and emergency landings by now, haven't you? If you make food, you might experience a health scare. If you run a car company like in the case of Toyota, ford, GM and many others, you might have to manage a recall. If you run an oil company, you might have to manage a spill (as was experienced in the case of Exxon Mobil and BP). It is vital to work out how your organisation would react if the worst were to happen and plan and train accordingly. Whilst risk registers and contingency plans are a good start, they can fool you into thinking that you have all bases covered. Planning and training must encourage creative flexible open behaviours. It is important to remember that it is usually the crisis that you never thought of that kills you.
Preselect, train and empower a crisis team
When crisis strikes, things develop at a devastating pace and companies need to react fast regardless of time zones, corporate procedures or internal politics. Individual leaders and teams should be preselected, trained and empowered to react instantly and calmly to the situation. The consensus culture at Toyota condemned them to losing the initiative and being butchered by the media over their recall crisis. Unless you are ahead or on the curve you will always be playing catch up and the crisis will spread systemically.
Put yourself in the customer’s shoes
Toyota customers were happy to pay premium prices for two key things - reliability and safety. When Toyota finally reacted, their crisis spokesmen tried to explain everything in engineering terms. What they should have done is consider what their customers may have been thinking (which is likely to have been whether their car was safe to drive). You have to build trust with your customers before their goodwill turns to anger, resentment and even personal hatred (as with BP).
Regret, reason, remedy
First you have to show that you are human by showing empathy for those people affected and express regret for what has happened. Many people fear legal consequences and are often told “never say you are sorry”; but showing that you understand the feelings of your customers is not the same as admitting liability. Secondly, try to explain in straightforward terms what has happened and the reason. “Unless you are ahead or on the curve you will always be playing catch up and the crisis will spread systemically.” If you don’t yet know, then say so and do not hide information that customers need to know. Lastly, get control of the situation by stating what you are going to do to remedy the situation.
Communicate, communicate and communicate
During times of crisis – no matter how big or small – organisations often feel that they are being attacked by a hostile press and the temptation is to close the doors, call a meeting and ignore the ringing phones. While it is important to establish your message, it is vital that you are seen to be openly communicating as soon as possible – speculation fills a vacuum. Communicate to your customers via the media but don’t forget the other key stakeholders including your own employees, suppliers and partners.
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2011.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
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