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You know that crisis management training is the foundation of your organisation's ability to respond quickly and effectively when the worst happens.
Whether it is a workplace accident, product failure, a data breach, supply chain issues or the behaviour of senior leaders, all businesses need to prepare properly, so they can act swiftly and communicate with clarity.
If they do, they can limit the damage to their reputation and share price. And prevent a crisis from turning into chaos.
But are there other benefits to crisis management training?
Can training outcomes go beyond the more obvious learning objectives and help develop skills and knowledge that are beneficial in other situations?
What are the objectives of crisis management training?
Before we explore those hidden, lesser-known benefits of crisis response training, let's look at the main objectives in more detail.
Crisis management training is essentially about ensuring you expect the unexpected and are well-prepared so you can respond appropriately.
Every crisis has the potential to create negative headlines, see your business name trend on social media, damage share prices and shatter reputations. And damage employee morale.
Good crisis management training helps organisations identify the likely crises they could face and then test the ability of their crisis management team to respond.
Does the crisis plan work, rather than just looking good on paper?
It should also identify any gaps in the crisis response plan and the knowledge, skills, expertise and decision-making of the team.
In short, good crisis management training will not solve a crisis.
But being properly prepared can reduce the reputational and financial impact. And prevent a PR disaster.
So, what are the other benefits of crisis management training?
Well, we have been delivering crisis management training for around 40 years.
And during that time, we've seen that the training has much wider benefits than being well prepared and creating a crisis-ready business.
Let's take a look at some of the main ones.
The eight hidden benefits of crisis management training
Hidden crisis management benefit 1: Team coordination and bonding
Teamwork is a vital part of an organisation's ability to manage a crisis.
There will be times when things don't go to plan and crisis management team members and other parts of the organisation need to work together to tackle problems and find solutions.
Our crisis management training courses are bespoke. And they push organisations and their employees.
We are often told afterwards that this testing, yet supportive, environment is a great team bonding exercise.
Knowing you can overcome the challenges presented by a crisis management training scenario brings people closer together, builds trust and fosters collaboration.
Hidden crisis management benefit 2: Empathetic leaders
Good crisis management training shows that effective crisis management is not just about sharing information quickly.
It is also about showing you care about the people impacted and the adversity and uncertainty they are experiencing.
A crisis response needs a human touch.
That comes from honest and transparent communication in crisis situations. And by showing compassion and providing reassurance.
Our training puts crisis team members in the shoes of the people they need to reach. And shows them how to adapt and tweak what they want to say to ensure it resonates.
And these empathy skills don't just help in crisis planning.
Empathy is seen as being increasingly crucial in the workplace, and it can have a huge impact on employee morale.
Studies show empathetic leaders play a pivotal role in workforce innovation, engagement, retention and inclusivity.
Hidden crisis management benefit 3: Improved performance
A tailored approach to crisis management training can help employees develop a range of skills and knowledge that will benefit them and the organisation day-to-day.
It can improve problem-solving, decision making and critical thinking abilities, especially under extreme pressure.
It also boosts communication skills. Whether you need to communicate internally or externally, crisis management training makes people communicate with clarity, confidence and brevity.
Hidden crisis management benefit 4: Preparedness
We all face challenges, disruptions and unforeseen problems as we go about our day-to-day activities.
They may not be a crisis for the business or the organisation. But they are difficult business situations that need to be overcome.
Taking part in crisis management training and knowing you can effectively manage crisis situations, gives you the confidence of knowing you are well set to deal with anything that comes your way.
You and your employees gain confidence in handling day-to-day challenges, and they will feel they can tackle anything, no matter how high-stress it may initially seem.
Hidden crisis management benefit 5: Better time management
Time management is a crucial part of crisis planning.
There's a lot going on during a crisis, and time is a precious commodity.
As we show during our training, organisations and their crisis teams must be able to respond quickly, prioritise tasks, stay informed of latest developments, delegate and collaborate.
But better time management skills are not just needed during a crisis.
They are something we all need every day as we navigate a fast-paced and often unpredictable world of work with often competing pressures, priorities and responsibilities.
Hidden crisis management benefit 6: Resilience
Effective crisis management requires resilience, particularly for long-running crises.
Good crisis management training boosts the resilience of crisis team members by exposing them to the pressures they would face if the worst happens.
It shows individuals - particularly leaders - that they cannot manage a crisis on their own. And that they need to share responsibilities and decision-making, take breaks and look after themselves.
It was something Dan Boniface, from The BCF Group, discussed during a Media Team Academy masterclass.
He said: “When I’m working from home, I go for a 20-minute walk.
“It clears my mind, and I’m more productive when I sit back at my desk.
“During a crisis response, people worry about how that sort of thing is perceived. But that is not doing us any good.
“If you are not in a good frame of mind, how will you support everyone else?”
And these resilience skills are crucial for day-to-day work, which tends to be increasingly fast-paced, and people are often asked to do more with less.
Hidden crisis management benefit 7: Reflection
All our crisis management training courses end with some reflection.
Did the crisis response work?
What worked well?
What could have been better?
What was the decision-making like?
Are there any changes that need to be made to the crisis management team?
Does the crisis plan need more work?
Do we feel well prepared?
Is any additional crisis management training needed?
All crucial questions.
But this sort of reflection should not be restricted to the end of crisis management courses.
It is something we should all do, even if it might initially feel a bit alien.
Taking a few moments to stop and reflect on situations, rather than rushing off to the next thing at 100mph, can help us learn, develop and improve.
When things have not gone well, it can be an opportunity to grow and build resilience, and we should reflect on how our actions and behaviours could have led to a different outcome.
And we should not overlook reflecting on what went well. Then, the next time you are in a challenging situation, you can think back to what went well the last time you dealt with something similar.
Hidden crisis management benefit 8: Career satisfaction and development
Effective crisis management training is empowering.
It tells your employees you trust them, value their input and want them by your side during the tough times.
They feel valued and empowered.
Consequently, they are more likely to share their ideas and opinions on other subjects.
And, as we have already highlighted, the training also helps them enhance skills, like decision-making, that are invaluable for career progression.
Are you crisis ready?
In unpredictable times, one certainty is that a crisis can impact any organisation or business.
No one is immune.
And as Benjamin Franklin once said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
Crisis management training equips organisations with the skills, expertise and confidence to act effectively and navigate tumultuous periods under enormous pressure.
And there is no one better to deliver crisis management training - and help your team prepare - than current working journalist tutors who have probably covered real crises in your industry.
Their experience and expertise mean they are ideally placed to help you manage the media in the most testing circumstances. And to show you how to prevent threats and risks from becoming a crisis.
And while the benefits are significant, it is clear there are also many lesser-known advantages of crisis management training for organisations and their employees.
Wouldn't your business benefit from better decision-making, stronger teams, more resilience and improved employee morale?
How our crisis management training and expertise can help you
Our crisis management training is delivered by those who know what it takes to communicate effectively – journalists who report on crises and complex situations for the nation’s media.
Every crisis course is bespoke.
We spend time getting to know your business or organisation, its vulnerabilities and potential risks ahead of the training.
It ensures we base your crisis management training on your crisis plans and realistic and believable – yet unpredictable - scenarios.
Our crisis management training is also practical. Your team members will learn the latest crisis management theory and thinking. They will also be guided through the skills and confidence to remain compassionate, authoritative, and in control when the media interest ramps up.
And then, we will put them to the test with lots of practical elements - it's the best way to learn.
Chat with us about your crisis management training needs.
Media First are media and communications training specialists with nearly 40 years of experience.
We have a team of trainers, each with decades of experience working as journalists, presenters, communications coaches and media trainers.
Click here to find out more about our crisis communication training courses.
