Expressions for crisis management
Warning! Important announcement! Crisis management is a very difficult and delicate time in any business. With the current situation and coronavirus sweeping across the globe, many companies are dealing with a crisis situation that requires careful planning and a managed response.
As many of you are probably faced with this situation, I thought it would be a great opportunity to provide you with some useful language that you can use in your next meeting or with your team when you need to discuss you response to a crisis.
Before I go on, let me just offer some advice. Firstly, have a clear message and all the information is essential to creating a coordinated response. Misinformation, a lack of information and confusion are the biggest problems people face when trying to deal with a crisis. If you want your company, team or department to act in the correct way you need to transmit a very clear, calm and effective message.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some vocabulary for crisis management.
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10 Expressions for crisis management
Action plan
Definition: The plan you follow in response to a crisis
“We need to draw up an action plan and be ready to respond."
A contingency plan or a plan B
Definition: a course of action to be followed if a preferred plan fails or an existing situation changes.
“A contingency plan is necessary in case your first plan fails.”
To not lose one’s nerve
Definition: To lose control of your emotions
“We can’t lose our nerves over this, we must make rational decisions.”
To cope with the fallout
Definition: The negative consequences of something
“How are we going to deal with the fallout of this situation?"
To have a knock-on effect
Definition: something (such as a process, action, or event) that causes other things to happen
“The knock-on effects of this crisis will take several months to recover from.”
A crisis communication plan
Definition: The message you seek to transmit during the crisis time.
“The crisis communication plan is essential to ensuring our staff and customers remain calm.”
Information flow
Definition: The transmission or dissemination of information
“The company must control the flow of information out of the company to make sure people don’t get the wrong message.”
News conference/press briefing
Definition: Official communication with the media
“The company released a press briefing to major media outlets.”
Restore confidence
Definition: To begin to trust again.
“The Government needs to restore confidence, otherwise the markets will keep falling.”
To handle
Definition: Manage or control
“The company needs to handle the situation delicately before the situation gets out of hand.”
Spanish translation
Below you will find the Spanish translation for those of you who are native Spanish speakers.
English | Spanish |
|---|---|
Action plan | Plan de acción |
A contingency plan or a plan B | Un plan B |
To not lose one’s nerve | Perder los nervios |
To cope with the fallout | Hacer frente a las consecuencias |
To have a knock-on effect | Efectos segundarios |
A crisis communication plan Information flow News conference/press briefing Restore confidence To handle | Plan de comunicación de crisis Flujo de información Rueda de prensa Restablecer la confianza Manejar |
Final thoughts
In conclusion, crisis management is a difficult and confusing time for most people and companies. As I mentioned before the key to successful management is delivering a clear message and ensuring that people are kept informed. In the absence of “real” information mass hysteria begins and people start becoming more and more confused. This can lead to situations where emotions dictate the decision making process and not logic.
Well my friends, let me know if you have any questions and comment below. All the best and I wish you well in dealing with any crisis that you may face.
See you next week on the Art of Business English.
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Andrew Ambrosius