Crisis Planning and Response
Communicating Under Pressure
November 17-18, 2009
Nashville, Tennessee
This highly interactive workshop focuses on effective crisis communications—both internal and external—and development of essential skills for successfully handling media interviews during a crisis. It also provides in-depth information on crisis planning, prevention and response and how social media can contribute to a crisis.
This one-and-a-half day workshop is vital for anyone whose responsibility includes identifying and responding to a crisis, and who may speak directly to the news media.
Participants will learn how to:
- Create a crisis plan
- Provide an immediate response in a crisis
- Develop effective strategies for use in managing a crisis
- Earn trust and build credibility
- Identify audiences and create an immediate communications strategy
- Develop clear communications goals and key messages to support them
- Present effectively on television and in person, including use of body language, eye contact, voice, and dress to support one’s message
- Get desired quotes in news stories and reduce the chances of being misquoted or taken out-of-context
- Avoid pitfalls and handle hostile questioning from the news media
- Prevent critical mistakes that can cause long-term reputation damage
Participants will practice planning crisis response, and will get numerous on-camera experiences, answering reporters’ questions during simulated crises. The interviews are followed by individual and group critiques.
Participants will also receive valuable take-home materials, including a reference guide on crisis communications, templates, coaching materials, practice crisis scenarios, information needed to prepare a crisis plan, and a video of their on-camera interviews.
Before the training, each participant will be asked to complete an individual needs assessment questionnaire, to help in understanding each person’s experience and role in the organization.
Highlights:
Day One 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fundamentals of crisis planning, basic crisis communications strategies, developing effective messages, hands-on exercises, interview practice sessions and interviews while on camera.
Day Two 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Development of an organizational crisis plan, reaching your audiences, more on-camera interviews and feedback.
The cost of this course is $349. Participation is limited to ten persons, so register early.
For more information, contact Diane Degnan at 615-742-5406 or ddegnan@umcom.org, or register online HERE.
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