For communications and public relations professionals who want to up their game, relying on a single individual during intense scrutiny is ineffective.
Effective comms before and during a crisis can determine whether an organisation achieves a swift recovery or suffers reputational damage.
This 10 point guide provides a structured, step-by-step approach to establishing an efficient team, defining clear roles and maintaining discipline under pressure.
The Mick Ord Media 10-point checklist for teamwork during crisis communications
- Form a well-coordinated team instead of relying on one person to ensure speed, efficiency, accuracy and reduced pressure on staff.
- Appoint a crisis communications lead to act as the central decision-maker who oversees all messaging and coordinates directly with leadership.
- Select an official spokesperson and ensure they are fully trained to handle difficult questions authoritatively under pressure.
- Assign clear specialist roles to cover media relations, social media management, internal communication, legal guidance and analytics tracking.
- Prepare before disaster strikes by creating crisis response protocols, contact lists and pre-approved message templates.
- Conduct regular training and run simulations so that every member of the team thoroughly understands their role and the chain of command.
- Set up dedicated internal communication channels, such as an emergency email thread or hotline, avoiding unaccountable personal messages.
- Maintain strict message discipline by ensuring all team members are aligned and the communications lead approves all public statements.
- Monitor news reports, social media conversations and stakeholder reactions in real time to track the situation and correct misinformation quickly.
- Support team members under pressure by sharing workloads and allowing breaks, then conduct a post-crisis debrief to analyse performance and update the plan.
Summary
Managing crisis communications successfully requires proactive planning, clear operational structures and absolute message discipline.
By assembling a specialised team and establishing dedicated channels before a crisis hits, professionals can monitor evolving situations and deliver accurate updates swiftly.
Following this step-by-step route to communications excellence protects the well-being of the team, minimises legal and reputational risks, and ensures the organisation speaks with a single, clear voice when under stress.
We’ve been providing bespoke crisis comms and media training workshops for more than ten years and we’d love to help and support you so get in touch.
Original material: The Power of Teamwork in Crisis Communications.
Source: Mick Ord, former BBC manager and founder of the Mick Ord Media Relations Consultancy, drawing on 11 years of dedicated media training experience.
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