Each week we seek your best public relations practices on the BraudCast. Your discussion question this week is, “If Your Leadership Team Listens to Corporate Lawyers More Than They Listen to the Public Relations Team How Do You Rectify That?” What are your best public relations and communications practices to ensure that your voice is heard? Make sure to share your comments and subscribe to the weekly question on the BraudCast YouTube Channel to participate each week.
Click image to watch and subscribe to The BraudCast
This question is one of a series of discussion questions about media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices each week. Here is how:
Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.
3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.
Step 4: Watch the Follow up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.
https://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.png00gbraudhttps://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.pnggbraud2016-02-15 07:54:562021-05-20 00:16:48If Your Leadership Team Listens to Corporate Lawyers More Than They Listen to the Public Relations Team How Do You Rectify That?
Allen & Sophie Braud on their wedding day. Today they are joined again with the Lord.
How fitting it is that my mother, Sophie Mongrue Braud, passed away this morning on this beautiful Mardi Gras Day at the age of 91. My dad, Allen Joseph Braud, passed away just 47 days ago on Christmas Day at the age of 90.
Since the day they got married in 1949, this is the longest they’ve ever been apart. I’ve always heard stories of couples that pass away just days or weeks apart. True to our expectations, Mom and Dad are one of those couples joined on earth and again in Heaven.
After Allen passed a few weeks ago, Sophie said she was ready to be with him. Both had been in failing health since Good Friday of 2013 – Yes, these Lovebirds even fell ill and began their earthly departure on the very same day nearly three years ago.
Sophie Braud outside her childhood home in Luling. Years later I broke my front tooth where those two pot plants are over mom’s right shoulder. She was a cutie, huh?
The Lovebirds grew up in the small town of Luling, Louisiana on the banks of the Mississippi River about 30 miles upriver from New Orleans. Back then the town was a dot amid the sugar cane fields, adjacent to the Ellington Plantation and sugar mill. Their childhood homes were just two blocks apart and they’ve known each other nearly all of their lives. (Dad recently recorded a historical interview about Luling)
Allen Braud serving in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. I guess the military knew he was cajun and needed his pants to be high enough so as not to get wet. Looking sharp airman; looking sharp.
They first dated in the 1930s while attending Hahnville High School and like many of the greatest generation, they had to pause while Allen served in the U.S. Air Force (Army Air Corps) during World War II.
After the war, Allen went to LSU to get his degree in Agriculture and they set their wedding date to be one day before Sophie turned 25 years old. Back then, a girl was considered an “Old Maid” if she wasn’t married before the age of 25.
One of the sweetest stories told of their wedding day is that Sophie, who lived across the street from the church, was driven from her back door, down the driveway, then around the block to the front of the church so she and her father, William J. Mongrue, could make an appropriate entrance by automobile.
Desiree Braud, Allen Braud, Sophie Braud, William Mongrue, Ernestine Mongrue at Allen & Sophie’s wedding reception. This photo was taken in the living room of William and Ernestine. What a great looking family.
The small town American Dream was their dream come true, raising five children and dedicating their lives to our betterment.
Sophie loved to sew. Each year Luling Elementary School had a Carnival Ball and mom would make our costumes. I wore this one to the Mardi Gras parades in 1967.
We were a station wagon family. Today, being Mardi Gras day, brings back such fond memories of Mom and Dad waking us early and loading us into the station wagon so we could go watch the parades on St. Charles Avenue.
It is difficult to know whether Christmas Day or Mardi Gras Day drew the greatest anticipation in the Braud household. How fitting that God selected Christmas for Allen’s passing and Mardi Gras for Sophie’s passing.
On Mardi Gras morning, Mom made the most amazing chicken salad sandwiches. When I got the call at 6 a.m. that Sophie had passed, I knew Allen had likely asked her to make chicken salad sandwiches for the parades today in Heaven… after all, that’s what Lovebirds do.
Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 12, 2016 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Luling. Visitation will be at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, we encourage gifts to the Thomas W. Braud Medical Fund, 608 Willowridge Dr., Luling, LA 70070.
https://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/IMG_0109-scaled.jpg25601912gbraudhttps://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.pnggbraud2016-02-09 17:17:532021-05-20 00:21:17The Lovebirds of Luling, Louisiana: The Passing of Allen & Sophie Braud
Social media has changed the way that corporate communicators must react to effectively manage a crisis. This week public relations and media relations professionals from all over the world shared their advice on whether or not social media should be part of their crisis communication strategy. Their expert opinion is featured today and every week on the BraudCast. Listen to the video to hear what your colleague’s had to say.
Click image to watch and subscribe to The BraudCast
This question is one of a series of discussions about media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices each week. Here is how:
Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.
3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.
Step 4: Watch the Follow up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.
https://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.png00gbraudhttps://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.pnggbraud2016-01-22 03:00:002021-05-20 00:24:01You answered: Should social media be a part of your crisis communications strategy?
You can’t turn on the television without a major crisis, tragedy, or disaster dominating the 24-hour news cycle. Through what lens do you view these events?
If you’ve never done so, try to watch events unfold with the eyes of a crisis communications expert. Focus on deadlines, timing, and how quickly, or in most cases, how long it takes, before the organization crippled by the crisis starts providing official information to the media. Keep an eye on the clock. Furthermore, zap through the television channels to observe the media and how they fill the information void.
Effective crisis communications requires you to think fast, act fast, and communicate fast. Watch the media so you can determine how to manipulate the media and the information cycle.
Here are 3 ways to adapt to the mindset of the media:
1) To quote Don Henley’s lyrics to the song Dirty Laundry, “Just give me something; something I can use.”
When a crisis happens, your job in public relations is to start pushing out information as soon as the event happens. And this is important – you don’t need a lot of facts to put out information. In fact, saying you don’t know all the details yet is actually a legitimate first statement to the media. Yes, within moments of your crisis going public, you can issue a statement that says,
“We have experienced a ________ at our ____ location. Details are still being gathered. We will share more information as soon as possible.”
This language should already be written in your crisis communications plan. In plans I write for clients, I call this the First Critical Statement, because it is critical that you fill the information void as soon as possible. To get a free download use the coupon code CRISISCOMPLAN when you select the item from my shopping cart.
Not every crisis gets 24/7 media coverage, but if you are in PR there is a high probability that it can happen where you work. Trust me, I spent 15 years as a reporter and 20 years in crisis communications. It is never a question of if it will happen, but a question of when.
The tragic events in San Bernardino are reflective of this. The media initially covered the unfolding story by interviewing worried family members and capturing images and videos from people inside the facility where the shooting occurred. We see this very same behavior every time there is a school or workplace mass shooting. It is very true that in the midst of chaos and tragedy, nearly everyone in the affected organization is focusing on the crisis. But YOU, the PR team, must make it your responsibility to not manage the crisis but to manage crisis communications at the speed at which the world and the media want to know more information.
2) The new normal is built around crises of all sorts being amplified on social media. The media fill the information void with rumors from social media. This exponentially increases pressure on communicators and leaders in companies to issue statements faster to keep the media focused on official sources rather than social media. However, eyewitness social media images and video are highly valuable. This means you need to be prepared to provide the media with your own newsworthy images and video as soon as possible.
3) Media need someone to advance the story as time passes. As a public relations expert you should treat the release of information to the media like a casino buffet. In other words, start small and keep it coming. Just like a buffet has soup, salad, and an entrée, official information should be fed to the media in the same way. They are hungry. You should feed them a little at a time. Too many organizations have executives who think no information should be shared until all information is known. This is a tragic flaw that must be fixed.
Although the media are a critical audience, in crisis communications you must realize that communications to your employees is equally as valuable and sometimes more valuable. Employees who know the truth are less likely to spread rumors. Your goal should be to give the same information to the media, employees and other stakeholders as simultaneously as possible. What you say to one audience you should say to all.
Achieving these high standards requires you to specify this behavior and these timelines in your crisis communications plan. Your crisis communications plan must then get support from your executives on a clear sunny day, long before the crisis. You must also test the process through crisis communications drills that can test your plan, the behavior of each leader, the ability of spokespeople, and the speed of your PR team.
If you’d like to delve deeper into this premise, join me for a free webinar on Thursday, December 17, 2015. Use this link to register.
In this program you will:
Learn to adapt a reporter’s mindset
Develop a 5-part strategy for effective crisis communications
Unlock the secrets necessary to change the leadership behavior within your workplace
About your webinar leader:
Gerard Braud, CSP, Fellow IEC (Jared Bro) is known by many as the crisis communications expert who is able to put a low cost, yet highly effective crisis communications plan in place in just 2 days. As a former reporter, you may have seen him on NBC, CNN, CBS, the BBC or The Weather Channel. It is the mistakes he saw people make daily as he covered the news that lead him to create a system of crisis communications plans and strategies that have served his clients on 5 continents.
https://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Braud-Webinar.jpg450600gbraudhttps://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.pnggbraud2015-12-14 10:20:062021-05-20 00:25:00When Crisis Strikes: 3 Ways to Think, Act, and Communicate Like a Reporter
Think about it: Today’s college graduates have spent half of their lives on mobile devices and social media. This was the inspiration behind the idea of going to social media to ask the world to provide wisdom for me to share with the 2015 Fall Graduates of Louisiana Tech. It was a high honor to be asked by Tech President Dr. Les Guice to return to my alma mater. A special shout out go to friends and mentors Ron White and Tom Morris for dropping a bug in Dr. Guice’s ear to suggest me. Below is the text of my commencement address.
To begin, we need to give credit where credit is due. You are here because of the love of your family and the guidance of your faculty. They’re all looking down from the stands right now trying to get your attention or get a photo of you. So I’d like you each to look around for a moment, catch the eye of that special someone, wave to them and as loud as you can, say, “Thank you.”
Next, I know each of you is dying to take a selfie, so let’s take a moment to let you take your selfie to get that out of the way.
Now on to the work at hand… transitioning you from your place in your seat to your place up here on this stage and then on to your place in life.
You have been labeled as Millennials… the generation of the new Millennium. But today I’m going to give you a new name. I’m going to proclaim you the MM Generation… the Mobile Millennials.
For more than half of your life, you’ve been wired to a mobile device and a variety of mobile apps.
For all of the promise granted to you by your mobile devices, there seems to be just as many evils. Instagram, SnapChat, Twitter, YouTube and all of your other mobile apps can be a pathway to sharing joy. Yet so often people use them as a pathway for hate. I’m dismayed every day when an anonymous hater feels compelled to spread misery instead of encouragement or smiles. I’m dismayed when they fail to use the option to simply keep their opinion to themselves.
In an effort to restore our faith in social media, today’s MM Generation commencement address to you is being crowd sourced from social media. For 30 days I’ve used social media to reach out to some of the brightest minds on the planet, as well as to ordinary folks who wish to share just a tiny bit of wisdom with you as you embark on the next chapter of your life.
So here are few of the observations shared with you through social media…
Public relations expert Gerard Corbett says, “It’s not about you. It’s about the effect you have on society and the greater good.”
Georgia Tech Assistant Athletic Director Chris Yandle says, “Every day is a job interview. You never know who is watching.”
Damon Gross – A communications executive at Arizona Public Service says,
“Be independent of your parents as soon as possile. The struggle is important.”
Photographer extraordinaire, and my first boss, Tom Morris, says, “You are about to learn how smart your parents really are.”
Les Guice – President of Louisiana Tech says,
“Have a plan for where you are headed, pursue what you love and pursue it with passion, but prepare for change.”
Sarah Kocian Alzamora – a corporate executive and mother of a special needs child says,
“Your life might turn out differently than you planned, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t right where you are supposed to be.”
Michele Norris – Radio Host with NPR says, “Plan your future in pencil.”
Lynn Smith – News Anchor at HLN says, “You aren’t going to be CEO next year. Enjoy paying your dues and be as humble on the way up as you would on the way down.”
Leadership expert Phillip Van Hooser says, “Strive to become so good at something that it will be impossible for you to be overlooked or ignored.”
I opened the address by allowing the graduates to find their family in the arena. On the count of three, they shouted a loud, “Thank you” to their parents.
Communications Consultant Nancy Painter says, “Look for how you can help others instead of how they can help you – it will come back to you ten-fold.”
Security Expert Jordan Frankel says, “No dream is unattainable or too big.”
NBC News & Today Show Host Savannah Guthrie says, “Be willing,” as in be willing to say yes, be willing to help, be willing to try new things.
Best Selling Author Joe Calloway says, “The quality of the work you do today, no matter what the job, determines the path of your future. Go all in.”
Chris Rossetti says, “No job is too small for excellence and do everything with a sense of ownership.”
Self-proclaimed Marketing nerd Reid Stone says, “You may not make six figures immediately, but whatever role you land, even menial, go above and beyond.”
British Journalist and television personality Piers Morgan says you should, “Work hard and play hard.”
Marketing Manager Lorrell Walter says this wisdom from her dad, who taught her to, “Find a job you love and don’t worry about the money. If you enjoy going to work every day you will be much happier than if you have a job you hate, even if it pays well.”
That is the very same advice that my wife and I gave to both of our daughters…
Producer and filmmaker Gary Hackney says, “Have a lot of coffee meetings with people who are already where you want to be in 10 years.”
Communications Professor Cindy Schmieg adds that you should, “Get involved in a professional association in your field and build relationships with mentors who can provide advice and help create connections.”
Airline pilot Brian Braud, brother of yours truly, says, “Always be willing to give something back to your community. Join a charitable organization like the Lion’s Club.”
Sales coach Lois Creamer says, “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”
Personal trainer Lisa Oglesby Sudbury says, “Don’t listen to anyone who tells you what you can’t do.”
Production Manager Bill Koskie says, “Life is unfair so be ready, willing and able to overcome.”
Doctor Mike Truppo says, “Trust your instincts, stay true to yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. People innately love helping others.”
Super mom and super volunteer Deborah Terribile Stewart says, “Follow your dreams, have faith in yourself and in God and don’t give up.”
Radio Host Paul Ladd says, “Believe in yourself. Don’t put much stock in the nay-sayers.”
Hamilton Mixon – Global Security Expert says, “Trust your gut. It is seldom wrong.”
On the humorous side:
Global Business Consultant Robert Bradford says, “Get a pre-nup.”
Comedian and the world’s only professional summarizer Dale Irvin says, “Buy lottery tickets and cozy up to rich relatives.”
Entrepreneur Vic Bourgoyne says, “Stay.”
Retired Naval officer Ned Lundquist says, “You will never look better than you do right now.”
My own advice would be this…
Be happy. Find happiness. Spread happiness.
A smile is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. Like your phone and your apps, smiles are mobile. You can take them everywhere you go. They still work even when the power goes out. Like your phone, from time to time you need to recharge your smile and you need to help others recharge their smiles.
Don’t be so caught up looking down at your mobile device that you fail to look up and smile at someone.
Each of us is given an unlimited supply of smiles. We can give away as many as we want. And when we give them away freely, even more come back to us. Test it… smile at the person beside you. Chances are they smile back. In a single moment we created approximately 5,000 smiles.
For those of you with degrees in the sciences who need proof, researchers tell us smiling activates the release of neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress. For those of you in liberal arts, neuropeptides are tiny molecules that allow neurons to communicate. (Don’t worry, that’s not going to be on the test.) Furthermore, scientific research in Scotland confirms that people who smile more are perceived as being more attractive.
Don’t be the person in life who takes away another person’s smile. Don’t take away their smile with words of judgment or hate.
From the time we awake each day the choice is ours to face the day with anger, hostility and frustration… or to face the day with a smile. When you are in a stressful commute to work and someone needs to merge, remember that it is better smile at them and to gesture to them with five fingers than to scream at them and gesture with just one finger.
There will be hard times in your life. Your dream job may become a nightmare. That happened to our daughters in each of their first job. Their mom and I helped them smile again when we taught them how to fire their boss.
In your life you will experience the death of parents and loved ones. Illness will strike. A relationship may sour. My challenge to you is to realize that the single most important tool that you have in order to overcome each of these obstacles is to find that next little thing that can bring a smile to your face and to the face of those with whom you are in conflict.
Human nature tells us to get even when someone harms us. If someone causes pain we want him or her to feel the same pain. But a Godly presence says to forgive. The golden rule says to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
(I don’t want you to think I’m a hypocrite. There are times in my life that I’m not proud of where I was to harsh to judge or where I was mean; where I gestured with one finger instead of five.)
But then I came to a moment of revelation and it came in a rather unconventional way at a rather unconventional time.
It was during the dark days after Hurricane Katrina, when so many had lost so much and had nothing to smile about that I really came to understand the need for and the power of a smile.
A group of us determined we had the ability to restore smiles where smiles had been erased.
We proposed having Mardi Gras parades through the destroyed city. Many serious people said it was neither the time nor the place, that there was much hard work to be done.
My observation was that we needed to do more than just rebuild with brick and mortar. We needed to rebuild the heart, soul and spirit of a saddened community. So I sat and calculated that if I purchased and threw 5,000 beads during a three-hour parade that I could make 5,000 people smile. I could bring smiles to 5,000 random strangers. And if the other 150 people riding with me in the parade did the same, we could generate 750,000 smiles in three hours. That’s a quarter million smiles an hour… or roughly 4,166.66 smiles per minute.
And that’s exactly what we did.
I wish you could have experienced it from my vantage point. It was a life-changing experience for me personally, yet more importantly, it gave discouraged people something to smile about; it made discouraged people feel normal again and those smiles marked a turning point in the recovery. It was the beginning of rebuilding the heart, soul and spirit of a community.
And now a few final thoughts:
My dream is that you realize that a lot of money in a stressful job is folly, but finding fulfillment in your vocation and sharing happiness everyday will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams.
My dream for you is that you find the perfect partner in life who makes you smile until death do you part. I was blessed to find just such a person right here on the Louisiana Tech campus on September 24, 1977 at about 2:30 in the afternoon when I met Cindy, my wife.
My dream is that you realize that as of today, you are in charge of you.
We are launching you.
Discover your authentic self.
Discover who you are really meant to be.
Go forth and smile.
## 30 ##
Time limitations prohibited me from sharing all of the advice and wisdom that came in. Below are some of the additional comments shared by great folks around the world on social media.
https://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Tech-Graduation-Gerard-Braud.jpeg214320gbraudhttps://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.pnggbraud2015-11-23 13:44:162021-05-20 01:08:43The Graduation Speech Crowdsourced by Social Media: Louisiana Tech University Commencement Address by Gerard Braud
I took my pants off while delivering the closing keynote for IABC Canada in Calgary. You guessed it — a case study about the LuLu Lemon crisis of yoga pants wearing thin on the inner thighs. Does this make my butt look big?
As we approach Thanksgiving in the U.S. I’d like to express my gratitude to all of you with whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with in recent weeks and months. At each conference where I’ve been a speaker since September, I’ve promised various free resources to help you become an expert in crisis communications plans, crisis drills, or media interviews.
So here are some free resources for all of you who attended those programs, as well as for all of you who follow along here on this blog:
1) If you’d like a copy of the First Critical Statement I use in my crisis communication plan, use this link. It takes you to the Learning Store where you can select the correct item.
Enter the coupon code CRISISCOMM
Make sure the shopping cart rings up to ZERO after you enter the coupon
If you are asked for credit card info, you’ve done it wrong. Try again.
This will be delivered through a secure server.
Nasdaq sponsored me for a crisis communications program at the PRSA International Conference in Atlanta. We blew up PRSA’s social media with this interactive crisis scenario that the audience blasted out to the world.
2) If you’d like my 29-day Media Training course, use this link. It takes you to the Learning Store where you can select the correct item.
Enter the coupon code BRAUD
Make sure the shopping cart rings up to ZERO after you enter the coupon
If you are asked for credit card info, you’ve done it wrong. Try again.
This will be delivered through a secure server.
3) If you’d like my 23 part i-Report tutorial, use this link for an index of the course on this blog. If you would like to subscribe to this blog, enter your e-mail address in the upper right-hand corner.
4) If you’d like my assistance to write your crisis communications plan, to train your spokespeople, or to speak at an upcoming conference, please call me at 985-624-9976 or send an e-mail to gerard@braudcommunications.com
5) Finally, if you are a public relations expert with ideas to share, please subscribe to The BraudCast YouTube Channel. Each week we pose a new question as we seek your bite-size bits of best practices, which we share with the world later that week. This is your chance to share with each other.
If I’m a good fit to speak at one of your favorite conferences, I always welcome an introduction to the meeting planner. Thank you.
Once again, thank you to all of you who have invited me to speak at your corporate meetings and association conferences. Thank you to all of you who attended. I hope our paths cross again soon.
https://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Gerard-Braud-IABC-presentation-pants.png462391gbraudhttps://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.pnggbraud2015-11-18 15:28:122021-05-20 01:09:02Thank You Gifts from Gerard Braud
In the world of crisis communications many will offer the expert advice that recovery is about reputational damage and repair. In the current political race for governor in Louisiana this week, the outcome will be decided on the consideration of how long reputational damage lasts and if a request for forgiveness can make the damage go away.
You may wish to watch Louisiana for an interesting case study. U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-LA) is reported to have had a fondness for hiring prostitutes in both New Orleans and in Washington, D.C. His opponent, John Bel Edwards (D) has even alleged in a television commercial that Vitter missed a vote in the Senate that recognized fallen service men because Vitter was calling a prostitute. After Vitter was caught, he called a “good wife” style news conference with his wife by his side and did the typical act of contrition with his wife pledging her support as the family would move forward.
Is that enough for a voter to forgive an elected official who might represent them? Think about it, then add another layer. Vitter runs as a pro-family ultra conservative who preaches family values. Does this further damage his reputation when he says one thing and does the opposite?
Click image to watch
So the crisis communications and reputation management question here is how will voters respond? Will a significant number forgive him and vote for him based on his party? Or will those in his party who say, “I forgive the guy, but I can’t vote for David Vitter because he made poor decisions and therefore isn’t fit to serve as Governor.” Will some in his own party call him out for being a hypocrite? Vitter’s opponent is already running commercials with people essentially saying that very thing.
Here is another consideration: Like Volkswagen, which created a crisis because of misdeeds, Vitter created his own crisis through his own intentional misdeeds. Does that make it harder for an audience or constituency to forgive?
A final consideration is this: When a person or company runs a commercial after a self-created crisis, does the commercial make you think more about the crisis? If you see a Volkswagen commercial, do you immediately think “scandal?” When a Louisiana voter sees a Vitter commercial, do they immediately think “cheater” or “hookers?” When Vitter makes robocalls with his wife and son on the recording, does it make a voter think, “But you cheated on your family?”
Keep your eyes on this news this Saturday to find out the final answer.
https://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.png00gbraudhttps://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.pnggbraud2015-11-17 03:00:342021-05-20 01:09:25Can David Vitter Overcome Reputational Damage from a Crisis He Created?
Delivering the closing keynote for IABC Calgary. Taking off my pants to prove a point about the LuLu Lemon crisis of yoga pants wearing thin on the inner thighs.
As a keynote speaker at the IABC Canada-West Region Conference, I was asked to do a podcast discussing crisis communications lessons for public relations and communications professionals. Vice President of IABC Calgary, Will Tigley interviews me to talk about crucial communications issues in today’s industry.
Here were a few of the major crisis communications planning aspects to consider that were discussed in the podcast:
First, the need for speed is one of the greatest issues in the industry. With the speed of Twitter and all social media, there is no longer time to wait multiple hours discussing semantics of a press release. The key to speed is pre-written news releases. Put the systems in place on a clear sunny day so that when your darkest day comes, you are prepared.
Will Tigley asked, “How do you go from being good at crisis communications to great at crisis communications?” You must have a robust crisis communications plan with pre-written news releases. You must practice in private, media train your spokespeople at least once a year, and act out realistic, high-chaos, yearly crisis communications drills.
Another aspect to consider in crisis communications planning includes conducting vulnerability assessments. This means walking throughout your organization, interviewing employees, and conducting meetings to determine everything that could ever possibly go wrong. Categories range from white-collar crimes, to hurricanes, to violence, explosions and even social media crises. Again, these crises are remedied with a simple, yet thorough crisis communications plan, as well as pre-written news releases for each scenario.
If there is one thing to walk away with when leaving the IABC Calgary Conference, or any conference in the future, do not file away your stack of notes. A dream without a deadline is still just a dream. Narrow your list, prioritize it, and set a date to follow through with these crucial crisis communications strategies.
CEOs and executives may fear embarrassment in a media training class, they may have a hectic schedule, or can’t justify spending their revenue on a media trainer. Public relations professionals and internal communications professionals often have a difficult time getting their CEO or executives to put media training on their calendar. This week the BraudCast question is, “What is your best advice to persuade your executives or CEO to take a media training class?” Please share your thoughts.
Click image to watch video
This question is one of a series of debates in the media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media industries where you and your colleagues can share observations with each other. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices. Here is how:
Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.
3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.
Step 4: Watch the Follow up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.
https://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.png00gbraudhttps://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.pnggbraud2015-10-05 07:33:102021-05-20 01:15:46BraudCast Question: What is your best advice to persuade your executives or CEO to take a media training class?
Public relations professionals and corporate communications managers have weighed in across the globe to answer the question, “When should your CEO be your spokesperson?” Listen to the video to hear their responses as well as my professional recommendations then share your thoughts.
Click image to watch
This question is one of a series of debates in the media relations, crisis communications, public relations, and social media industries where you and your colleagues can share observations with each other. Yes, YOU are invited to share your bite size bits of best practices. Here is how:
Step 2: You will see a short video that poses a new question every Monday. You then post your best practices and observations on The BraudCast YouTube channel.
3: Once your opinion is shared, you can follow the discussion online so you can compare your best practices to those of your professional colleagues.
Step 4: Watch the Follow up Friday Video where you will see a short YouTube video outlining some of the most interesting observations. Yes…your comments may actually show up on our BraudCast video, bringing you world-wide fame, fortune, a big raise, glory, street parades, and more.
https://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.png00gbraudhttps://braudcommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logo-white-01-300x138.pnggbraud2015-10-01 23:30:392021-05-20 01:20:59BraudCast Answer: When should your CEO be your spokesperson?
And that’s exactly what we did.
In the world of crisis communications many will offer the expert advice that recovery is about reputational damage and repair. In the current political race for governor in Louisiana this week, the outcome will be decided on the consideration of how long reputational damage lasts and if a request for forgiveness can make the damage go away.
