Let’s go on a journey. Let’s imagine what your next crisis will look like and play out a few scenarios of what could happen. It might be more important to design what will not happen as a way for you to survive with your business and your reputation intact. One step at a time.
The golden hour, the metaphorical 60 minutes (you might get longer but not much longer really) before the crisis really gets out of hand, has become increasingly important for business and political leaders as the modern media ecosystem has become an aggressive business in itself, one that feeds off the demands of the masses. This puts a priority on reporting on sensational news; nothing like a good crisis to up ratings. The more sensational the better, and now everyone wants to know what’s going on. Nothing like FOMO on a huge scale.
This always happened to other people, but now it is happening to you. In real life, this is where the fight or flight response will kick in with healthy amounts of adrenaline. The question is: are you and your team ready to deal with what is about to happen next?
At the cutting edge of crisis management, which is often confused with all of crisis management, is crisis communication. It is the moment when all the training, all the life experience and a healthy dose of internal strength come together in what will be one of the defining moments in a career or the history of the organisation. It sounds dramatic (it is and it will be) because this is what will sell newspapers or, more likely, clicks and eyeballs. How many people will be watching your crisis unfold? To make things worse, this may even be a case study in the years to come.
“We live in the age of crisis,” explained Nordin Abdullah, one of the leading crisis management experts in the region. “Many of us just want to go about our lives much like we did yesterday. Unfortunately, there are those who use crisis as a strategy to take what you have created.”
The Crisis Management Centre, which operates out of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has assisted countless companies on how to prepare a crisis management plan, or how to prepare a crisis communication plan, and ensure that the team has the skills and the confidence to implement the plan during a crisis.
“A crisis is the forge in which your reputation will be shaped, and it needs to be managed. The problem, the clear and present danger to your sustainable existence. This raises a simple question: Are you truly resilient, or are you going to have to deal with the cold, hard truth when you read the media report it later this evening on a news portal or social media platform?” continued Nordin who is also a business leader in Asia with over 30 years of experience.
Nordin’s broad knowledge of the region, coupled with a deep understanding of crisis-related issues, has earned him a strong reputation. His opinions have been sought after by various media and shared in many conferences globally. Crisis management folds out into government relations, crisis communications, data-driven research, policy advisory, issues management, scenario planning and futures insights.
Further reading on Crisis Management – Five critical areas to address for crisis readiness
- Regulatory Compliance and Legal Exposure
Public-listed companies must adhere to strict regulatory guidelines, particularly when it comes to disclosure during a crisis. Failing to communicate the right information at the right time can expose the company to legal penalties and lawsuits. Proper crisis communication ensures that the company remains compliant with all regulatory requirements, protecting it from further fallout.
Dealing with a political crisis?
Deal with a regulatory crisis?
- Protecting shareholder value
With today’s interconnected financial markets, rumours and misinformation can wreak havoc on stock prices. Public-listed companies that fail to manage the narrative during a crisis risk causing panic among investors, leading to a sell-off. Crisis communication that is clear, timely, and honest can help stabilise the stock price and prevent a dramatic loss in market value.
Does your spokesperson need crisis communication training?
Does your crisis response team need management training?
- Maintaining stakeholder relationships
Beyond shareholders, public-listed companies have multiple stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and partners. Each group will be watching closely to see how the company handles the crisis. A clear communication plan helps maintain trust and strong relationships with all stakeholders, ensuring that key partnerships remain intact during challenging times.
Need to run a scenario planning workshop or a series of desktop exercises?
What AI tools are available for business and media intelligence?
- Managing change in a rapidly changing business landscape
In recent years, the world has seen unprecedented challenges—from global pandemics to political instability and cyberattacks. The expansion of “trade wars” with tariffs and retaliatory tariffs flying around, 2025 is well underway, and these types of crises will only continue to evolve. Training your team in crisis management now ensures that they are prepared for the uncertainties of the future. This sentiment was echoed in an opinion piece by Nordin Abdullah in the New Straits Times titled “The Broken Windows Theory”.
Have you been hit by a cyberattack and threatened by hackers?
How are you mapping policy change and government strategy in your sector?
- Post-crisis recovery
Following a crisis, the senior management needs to rebuild shareholder confidence, regulator confidence and public confidence all at the same time. During the post-crisis phase, stakeholders need immediate and transparent communications to remain confident in the company’s leadership. Crisis communication, therefore, is not just about managing information; it’s about safeguarding the future of the organisation. Effective communication post-crisis can make the difference between a swift recovery and a lingering reputational disaster.
What is truly “narrative” and how does it need to be managed?
Why does stakeholder mapping matter?
To find out more about the Crisis Management Centre and how their team can assist, visit www.CrisisManagementCentre.com.