[CC] [PM] CC Plan Development - Putting Your Strategy into Action

Crisis Communication Plan Development involves translating your crisis communication strategy into a detailed, actionable plan.

This plan outlines specific communication steps for different crisis scenarios, assigns responsibilities, and identifies the communication channels for each target audience. It ensures a coordinated and efficient response during a crisis, minimizing confusion and maximizing the impact of your communication efforts.

From CC Strategy to Action Plan

Building on the foundation laid in Phase 4, we now transform your crisis communication strategy into a practical action plan. This plan will guide you during a crisis, ensuring a coordinated and efficient communication response. Here's what your plan should include:

• Crisis Scenarios and Activation Criteria. List each potential crisis scenario identified in Phase 2. Define clear activation criteria that trigger the communication plan for each scenario. For example, the activation criteria for a data breach might involve exceeding a specific threshold of compromised data.

• Communication Responsibilities. Assign clear communication roles and responsibilities for each crisis scenario. This includes designating spokespersons for internal and external communication and identifying teams responsible for crafting and disseminating messages.

• Communication Channels and Messages. Outline the specific communication channels you will utilize for each target audience during different crisis scenarios. Link these channels to the key messages you developed in Phase 4, ensuring targeted communication for each group.

• Communication Timeline. Develop a communication timeline for each crisis scenario. This timeline should outline the timeframe for issuing initial statements, subsequent updates, and recovery messages.

• Resource Allocation. Identify the resources required to implement your communication plan for each scenario. This might include budget allocation for press conferences or additional staff to manage social media communication.

• Approval Process. Establish a straightforward approval process for all crisis communication materials, such as press releases and social media posts. This ensures consistency with your core messaging principles and minimizes the risk of inaccurate or misleading information being disseminated.

Developing Templates and Guidelines

Consider developing pre-drafted templates and communication guidelines to facilitate a swift and efficient response. Here are some examples:

• Press Release Templates. Create pre-formatted press release templates that can be easily adapted to crisis scenarios.
• Social Media Guidelines. Develop social media communication guidelines outlining best practices for crisis communication on various platforms.
• Internal Communication Templates. Craft templates for internal communication messages to employees, such as company-wide emails or internal website announcements.

With these templates and guidelines, your team can save valuable time during a crisis and ensure consistent messaging across all communication channels.

A well-developed crisis communication plan empowers your organization to respond swiftly and effectively to any crisis scenario. This chapter has equipped you with the tools to translate your crisis communication strategy into a detailed action plan, ensuring a coordinated and efficient communication response. By outlining specific communication steps, assigning clear roles, and developing templates, you've created a roadmap for navigating any crisis with clarity and control.

Having established your crisis communication strategy in Phase 4, this chapter focused on Phase 5: Crisis Communication Plan Development.

Here, we will guide you through translating that strategy into a practical action plan - your roadmap for navigating any potential crisis.

This plan ensures a coordinated and efficient communication response by linking your identified crisis scenarios to specific communication actions. You've defined activation criteria for each scenario, assigned clear communication roles, and outlined the communication channels and messages tailored for each target audience. A communication timeline and resource allocation plan further ensure a smooth response.

By incorporating pre-drafted templates and communication guidelines, your team can react swiftly and consistently during a crisis. With this comprehensive action plan, you've laid the groundwork for the next crucial phase: CC Testing and Training (Phase 6).

This chapter will guide you through simulating real-world scenarios to identify areas for improvement and ensure your team is fully prepared to execute the plan effectively during a crisis.