Be calm during the storm.
What To Look For in a Great Communicator, part 4
“A man has no more character than he can command in a time of crisis.” Ralph W. Sockman
One of the best compliments I ever received from a veteran news anchor during a severe weather situation was, “The crazier it got, I noticed the calmer you became.” In live broadcasting, there will always be fluid situations where there is no script and things are changing by the second. During these times, it’s easy for the mind to race and therefore not be able to process and access changing conditions on the fly, and then communicate them effectively. During these times, I consciously tried to slow down my thought process and effectively triage the bits of information coming in. The same holds true during a PR or any other business crisis. By remaining calm, it helps one more effectively disseminate the information and also reassures the audience during a crisis. The audience, the public and the client needs to know your organization is in control, and calmly assessing the situation, and acting upon in their best interests.
“Crises refine life. In them you discover what you are.”
Allan K. Chalmers
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