Individuals and brands alike may take years building their reputation, only for it to vanish in seconds. With the infamous ‘cancel culture’ becoming more popular, you may have to rethink your reputation management strategy.
You may find yourself in the crosshairs of a full-blow reputation crisis from even the simplest of actions. From controversial social media posts to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, you may need to take control of the narrative before you lose your job or sink the company.
Here are five key steps to take when managing your reputation crisis.
Assess the Damage Done
The first plan of action is to audit the reputation hit you receive from the scandal. You can begin with an online sweep, checking search results. What is the perception of your stakeholders, employees, or family members?
A proper analysis can help you determine how serious the situation is. The assessment may also provide a baseline that guides your response to the crisis.
Be Mindful of Your Communication
The purpose of any reputation management team is to control the public’s perception of the issue at hand. You may have to reach out to all stakeholders and the media. Your investors, business associates, and customers may need formal communication of how the events unfolded and your steps to remedy the situation.
A hurriedly-assembled, half-baked apology may do more harm than good. Conversely, a thoroughly reviewed press release from your lawyers may sound disingenuous. Communication during a crisis may require finesse, often necessitating the hiring of reputation management experts.
Explore All Options
You may need to think through all options to clear your name or that of the brand. Simple steps such as mugshot removal can help build on your reputation after the crisis. You may need to assess the viability of other non-pleasant options, such as serving time.
Reputation management is more often a private fight battled in the public arena. Any comment, action, or inaction can worsen the situation. You may need to assess your abilities in taking control of the situation.
If you are out of depth, you should consider getting help. Lawyers and crisis management experts can help provide you with a complete list of actions to take control of the situation.
Set Realistic Expectations
You may need to be practical about the outcomes of your reputation management plan. Multiple criminal charges can make it difficult to project you as friendly and approachable. The reputation audit may guide you in the steps to undertake.
You may have to switch your career or retract from your social media profiles for a while. Set your expectations right for when the crisis is in your rearview mirror.
Plan for The Future
Most brands and individuals are often caught flat-footed with an exploding reputation crisis. You may need to establish a personal crisis plan for the future. The current situation may provide you with an opportunity to learn how to preserve your brand’s reputation in the long term.
Conclusion
A reputation crisis may seem inevitable for individuals or brands in the public domain. You can use the tips above to control people’s perception of the situation. Remember, it’s better to have a reputation management plan in place even when you don’t need it than to need it and not have it.