Business Marketing Association Minnesota Chapter

It is said that the best way to handle a crisis is to prepare for one. From handling product recalls, industrial accidents, litigation, financial mismanagement and patent infringement, Crisis Management involves more than corporate communicators. Crisis Management is a discipline that B2B marketers and communicators need to be prepared to particpate in. 

On January 17, 2012, Twin-Cities Crisis Management consultants Jon Austin and Paul Omodt led a discussion on managing the c-suite, working with the media, controlling the impact of social media and communicating to your channel and customers.

In addition to practical advice on how to manage a crisis, Austin and Omodt shared insight in how to prepare yourself and your company for a crisis. 

Jon Austin

Before starting his own company Austin worked for nearly six years in the Minneapolis office of Fleishman Hillard and prior to that served for nearly ten years as the principal spokesman for Northwest Airlines, the fourth-largest airline in the world. In the summer of 2006 Austin started a communications consultancy for corporate reputation, crisis and overall communications needs. His clients range from Fortune 100 global companies to individuals facing litigation. Austin's done work in the retail, consumer products, financial services, aviation, construction, telecommunications, lodging, medical devices and food products industries among others.

Paul Omodt

Omodt is no stranger to a crisis. Locally and globally, he’s helped clients successfully deal with difficult issues, from plant closings to product recalls to workplace accidents. Omodt’s diverse background in media and public relations make him ideally suited to lead the crisis and critical issues practice at Padilla Speer Beardsley, as well as its government and media relations teams. Before joining Padilla, Omodt led the communication and public relations efforts for the Northwest Airlines chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association. There, he worked on everything from the airline’s financial restructuring and return as a public company, to the 1998 contract negotiations and pilots’ strike.

GiangBOMB My man Welch would say, "Lead change before you HAVE to change, manage before you are lead" #bmamn

BMAMinnesota Emotional responses are bad in a crisis situation - Paul Omodt.#bmamn

BMAMinnesota Showing that you are competently handling the situation is the best thing you can do #bmamn

BMAMinnesota Thanks to #bmamn hashtag tweeters @helmin7 @apearson @Pat_Hirigoyen @StephaniSSimon @NancyGregson @ChristinaMila @jtrauring

BMAMinnesota You need to manage "it" - not "it" managing you. You can't forget to manage the "tail" #bmamn

tonybielMN Dealing with Crisis - presentation's Best Slide: Call in the Expert... picture of Pulp Fiction's "The Wolf" #BMAMN

Pat_Hirigoyen Don't assume you'll get all of the CEO's time in a crisis - someone has to run the company #bmamn

Pat_Hirigoyen What you do in a crisis says a lot about the type of company you are #bmamn

BMAMinnesota When you communicate, make sure you use all channels - not everyone will be on twitter, email or the internet. #bmamn

BMAMinnesota If you think you are blocking the use of social media by ur clients - you are fooling urself. You can't keep it out of the equation. #bmamn

BMAMinnesota When does crisis management turn to issues management? Crisis has a long tail. Same principles apply to both. #bmamn

BMAMinnesota Five steps for crisis communication: planning, practice, teamwork, execution, adaptability and analysis #bmamn

BMAMinnesota Crisis is not a "winnable" situation. No one wants it. You are playing not to lose as much... mitigate the situation. @jmaustin#bmamn

BMAMinnesota It is important that your senior management needs to have specific directions on what to do and what not to do during a crisis #bmamn

helmin7  #bmamn when 35W bridge went down in mpls the only network working was text messaging.

helmin7 #bmamn talk to your employees during a crisis. Don't hold info back.

apearson People forget to talk to employees in a crisis #bmamn

BMAMinnesota Be careful of what you say... filter so what you put out there is legitimate truth. Otherwise, you can cause even bigger crisis #bmamn

StephaniSSimon #bmamn if you practice you crisis plan regularly, talk with your insurance company about reducing your rates

BMAMinnesota Some companies get lower insurance based on risk assessment and training. #bmamn Crisis comm is a savings over time.

BMAMinnesota Risk assessment - determining what the threats/scenarios are and develop plans for the most likely scenarios #bmamn

BMAMinnesota Step one is have a plan which contains central coordination, defined roles, risk assessment, redundancy and regular test & review. #bmamn

helmin7 #bmamn I guess we do need a crisis plan. Jon Austin & Paul Omodt have convinced me.

BMAMinnesota What's in a crisis plan? First thing - don't panic. #bmamn

apearson There's no new cycle anymore, says @jmaustin, there's only the moment #bmamn

StephaniSSimon #bmamn have a crisis plan and practice it

apearson At #bmamn mtg on how to handle a crisis.

StephaniSSimon #Bmamn how to handle a crisis is starting with Jon Austin and Paul Omodt

Pat_Hirigoyen Topic: Crisis Communications #bmamn

BenWallace RT @NancyGregson: First #BMAMN event of 2012 this morning on crisis communications. You can still attend [...]. Event starts at 8.