I recently published a video discussing the best way to train your staff to be crisis-ready (hint: it’s by conducting a crisis simulation). At the end of the video, I invited viewers to ask me questions so that I could help them – and you – prepare and conduct a successful exercise.
While I received several questions, there was one in particular that came from both professionals and students. It was a question that I never really thought to answer before, which means I’m so grateful to those who took the time to pose it – especially since it came from more than one person!
The question was:
What’s the best way to prepare for experiencing a crisis simulation when you don’t know the subject?
If your company or professor plans to put you through a crisis simulation, this week’s #crisisready video offers you some helpful tips on how to be prepared. Take a look!
Do you have a crisis management question that I can help answer?
If so, don’t be shy. Ask away and I look forward to answering! 😉
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Author of Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World, Melissa Agnes is a leading authority on crisis preparedness, reputation management, and brand protection. Agnes is a coveted keynote speaker, commentator, and advisor to some of today’s leading organizations faced with the greatest risks. Learn more about Melissa and her work here.
Hi Melissa
To conduct a simulation using social media bursts, the real time new cycle, having stakeholders calling in and media calling in sounds great, but how do we ensure the ‘exercise’ is still contained within the crisis simulation and isn’t mistaken for the ‘real thing’?
Do you use a ‘training’ or ‘testing’ version of your email / social media monitoring software etc. and draft scripts for phone calls to be made at pre-determine times?
I look forward to your answer! Thanks in advance.
Great question, Kerri. You raise a very good point. It’s important to eliminate the risk of people mistaking the exercise for a real crisis!
We do a few things to help mitigate this risk, including:
– The digital components of the simulation are contained within our simulation platform, which is on a secure network. This includes things like mock email, mock social media accounts, etc.
– We make sure team members know that the exercise is being conducted.
– The team includes descriptives like “EXERCISE” or “DRILL” at the start of every written message.
As for scripts, yes, these are drafted ahead of time, role players are briefed and provided with timelines for playing their roles.
I hope this helps answer your questions!
Melissa