Crisis Management

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Carnegie Mellon University (Entrepreneurship Forum)

CEO Boardroom - Play ball with the Nationals!

Our crisis management team is composed of leaders who have been there, lived through a variety of business, political crises, and adopted strategies that resulted not just in survival, but led to thriving and growing in difficult situations. We have advised national political figures in the midst of scandal, large and small businesses dealing with investor and shareholder pressure, public agencies responding to legal challenges, and non-profit organizations with board and liability problems. Our team has helped senior executives, elected officials and volunteer board members get through their most difficult incidents, and emerge stronger and better for the experience. We have helped high-profile executives and sports personalites who thought their careers were ending live to fight another day. Most important, we have helped organizations avert crises that at first seemed almost insurmountable, helping leaders to see through the noise and clutter, and find the clear path to success.

Every crisis has a unique DNA, which requires an original solution. Short-term approaches may prolong or delay the crisis, but will not really solve it. Rather, we emphasize strategic planning to make sure the patient comes off life support for good. We approach it in much the same way a surgical team responds to an emergency and prescribes appropriate treatment to ensure survival. Sometimes that means major surgery rather than band-aids. We begin with an immediate assessment and diagnosis of the problem; take quick action to stop the hemorrhaging, stabilize the situation and avoid catastrophe; determine the prognosis for long-term recovery; and prescribe appropriate actions to ensure outcomes from which the client emerges stronger than ever. Effective intervention means turning danger into opportunity.

Strategies:
Bringing clarity to the situation
Seeking calm out of chaos
Knowing when to apologize, when to fight back
Dealing with problem employees and problem bosses
Handling news media and public relations
Exit strategy
Identify the winning message – colleagues, employees, public

Types of Crises:
Associations, Corporations, Public agencies/officials
Organizational or personal crises

Abrupt policy or personnel changes
Sudden terminations or layoffs
Board infighting
Senior management infighting
Board v. CEO
Staff mutiny
Behavioral scandal
Financial scandal
Shareholder uprising
Product liability and lawsuits