Overview

Data breaches, information leaks, staff shortages, cuts to funding and services; these are all crises that could affect your organisation. Yet nearly two-thirds of organisations don’t feel confident that they are adequately prepared for a crisis. With so much uncertainty in the current political climate, having a good crisis communications strategy in place is critical. Providing a coherent and measured response can make or break your organisation’s reputation.

This Crisis Communications course ensures that you are fully prepared for when crisis hits. Acquire practical strategies and tools to ensure smooth handling of any crisis communications. Work with the trainer to build an effective communications plan addressing all stages of a crisis, from pre-crisis preparation to post-crisis recovery and practise the skills you have learnt in a real-time scenario.

Learning Outcomes

  • Prepare for the most common crises your organisation may face
  • Establish how to create and maintain a consistent message across the whole organisation
  • Identify the best communication channels through which to contact key stakeholders
  • Gain tools to avoid and manage potential pitfalls during crisis response
  • Develop detailed strategies to effectively manage internal and external communications throughout the whole crisis
All the Understanding ModernGov courses are Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certified, with signed certificates available upon request for event.

Enquire About In-House Training

To speak to someone about a bespoke training programme, please contact us:
0800 542 9414
[email protected]

Agenda

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09:15 - 09:45

Registration

09:45 - 10:00

Trainer's Welcome & Introduction

10:00 - 10:30

Crisis Communications: What Is It and Why Do We Need It?

  • Understanding the importance of strong crisis communications
  • Recognising how different crises form and manifest
  • Identifying key communications channels and stakeholders
10:30 - 11:00

Crisis Communications in Theory and in Practice

  • Assessing the pros and cons of common crisis communications models
  • Diagnosing different types of crises and prescribing the right model
11:00 - 11:15

Morning Break

11:15 - 12:00

Preparing for Anything: Creating a Pre-Crisis Plan

  • Assembling a cohesive team and assigning roles
  • How to identify potential threats most likely to affect your organisation
  • Mapping your stakeholders
  • Drafting templates for holding statements
12:00 - 12:45

Crisis Response: Tools to Help You Direct the Situation

  • Controlling the narrative through the initial crisis response
  • Setting the tone: choosing your language carefully
  • Keeping a consistent message across platforms and spokespersons
  • Handling external and internal communications
  • Finding the balance with information dissemination
12:45 - 13:45

Lunch

13:45 - 14:30

Post-Crisis Communications and Handling the Aftermath

  • Understanding why post-crisis communications are critical
  • Creating meaningful follow up communications
  • Recovering and transitions back to normal communications
14:30 - 16:00

Workshop: Crisis Communications at Work

  • Participants work on a scenario that allows them to apply a crisis communication plan and overcome complications and challenges
  • Evaluating the plans and lessons learnt
16:00 - 16:15

Feedback, Evaluation & Close