Everything you need to know about internal crisis communication

The topic of crisis communication in companies has become more important than ever since the rapid spread of COVID-19. What was considered unthinkable just a few weeks ago is now a reality – and an end is not yet in sight (as of March 24th, 2020). Shops, schools, hairdressers, public swimming pools, fitness studios, driving schools, kindergartens, and restaurants were all closed, bans on physical contact were imposed, and employees were relegated to work from home. Now more than ever, effective and transparent crisis communication is particularly important. It is essential to reach all employees immediately, wherever they are, to provide emergency plans, to report cases of illness, and to give employees a sense of security so that they can work together productively and in a well-networked manner from home.

💁 So that you don’t have to scour the entire internet for information, we have compiled (and will continue to compile) important articles, guides, and educational material for you.

Table of Contents

1. How internal communication can keep Corona in check

2. How companies are handling the Corona crisis

3. COVID-19: how a Social Intranet will improve your crisis communication

4. Transparency ensures loyalty and trust

5. 7 tips for internal crisis communication

6. Guide to crisis communication

7. The four phases of crisis communication

“How internal communication can keep Corona in check”

This article from Fokus IK discusses how a crisis is an opportunity to revolutionize modern working life. Clearly, the challenge is enormous, because, within a very short time, companies now need digital solutions that are both easy to use and support productivity. Author Philipp Bahrt (chief editor of the trade magazine “BEYOND”, among others) notes that some communication tools are currently being offered for free to support companies during COVID-19.

This crisis could completely change modern working life!

In addition, the article makes it clear that the introduction of digital out-of-the-box solutions could be “the key to the long-term and comprehensible development of a digital mindset”. Fokus IK also explains how digital meetings can be established, how to prevent internal panic, and which work processes should be changed. You can find the whole article here.

“How companies are handling the Corona crisis”

One burning question we all have: how are the others actually dealing with the COVID-19 crisis? This INTERNET WORLD article offers a fascinating insight into the crisis communication of well-known companies like Apple, Twitter, Xing, and Mister Spex. The companies answer questions like: What internal measures have been taken? Has there been any community engagement? What limitations were there? So if you are looking for interesting insights into the current situation – either out of curiosity or for education – you should read this article.

“COVID-19: how a Social Intranet will improve your crisis communication”

In this article from COYO, you’ll learn why digital tools like Social Intranets and employee apps are valuable allies in the current health crisis. In addition to their function as an information channel for employees, these tools are the key to strengthening social cooperation. In the best case, this also ensures the productivity of the company. The article highlights five advantages that companies gain from using a Social Intranet. For example, information can be distributed precisely and in real time, and employees can be reached immediately – regardless of their location – all while keeping the company GDPR-compliant. In addition, the article highlights the enormous potential a Social Intranet has, as it can replace the “office grapevine” and strengthen employees’ sense of security. Finally, these tools also encourage the “social” aspect: We’re stronger together and we can do anything. 💪  Here is the whole article.

“Transparency ensures loyalty and trust”

It is essential to have transparent crisis communication – especially in uncertain times – and this is exactly what the up-and-coming magazine Markt und Mittelstand reports in its article “Transparency ensures loyalty and trust”. Also important: direct dialogue with colleagues. You can find out what can go wrong, what you have to watch out for, which particular role the executive level plays, and what a poisonous atmosphere can cause here.

“7 tips for internal crisis communication”

As a result of COVID-19, crisis communication is currently the central focus of many companies’ activities. Almost daily there are new findings, developments, and reports that can affect companies and their employees. In this article, COYO gives seven helpful tips on how companies can implement effective crisis communication. The main focus is on crisis preparation, which enables us to react quickly and competently in an emergency. This includes, for example, the creation of FAQs or an internal company Wiki, as well as the adoption of binding language regulations and the preparation of various crisis scenarios. In order to implement this, the author also stresses that “the clear delegation of responsibilities and areas of accountability”, in the form of a crisis team, is just as important as the exchange with experts and the regular review of new information. Here, it’s clear that digital tools (like COYO) can be a huge help in crisis communication. You can read the whole article here here.

“Guide to crisis communication”

The German Federal Ministry of the Interior has published a guide on crisis communication. It explains terms such as crisis and crisis communication and also defines the objectives, content, and responsibilities of risk and crisis communication. It provides assistance with planning, implementation, and evaluation, and also addresses the topic of social media. This guide is especially useful if you are new to crisis communication. You can find the complete guide here. 

“The four phases of crisis communication”

This article is dedicated to a concept that was initially developed in the context of communication science and that, despite its particularities, is always clearly recognizable after a crisis. Four phases can be clearly differentiated, each with its own characteristics – the potential, the latent, the acute, and the post-crisis phase. However, the author describes not only the individual phases, but also the effects these have on the associated communication.

In the potential phase, as well as the latent phase, the focus is on recognizing the impending crisis. In crisis communication, these are the phases of preparation for an emergency. In the acute crisis phase, where the crisis has already begun, reactive communication is the focus. Finally, the author stresses that the post-crisis phase also has an important role to play. Best practices should be compiled and communication with employees should be established in order to be able to position the company more firmly and be better prepared in future crisis scenarios. 👉 The whole article can be found here.