It all started in a bar...Deveney Communication
More than three years ago I found myself in a bar around Charles St. in New Orleans for spring break. I was eating chicken strips and the man next to me was drinking beer. He was very nice and talked to me about college and the post-college life. I wish I knew or remembered his name. I did remember the company he worked for, Deveney Communication. As a nineteen year old, his passion for and satisfaction to a company at such a young age struck me as unusual, and more importantly, something I wanted. Since that night, I've watched Deveney Communication from afar, read their case studies, watched their tweets and browsed their website multiple times. I'm still as attracted and in awe of the company as I was that first night.
"To achieve balance, discover who you are. What brings you joy? What are your passions and priorities? It takes a lifetime and true effort to discover these things. But as you discover them, let them direct you: Do what you love and do it in your own way." - John Deveney
Deveney is renown for its crisis management work, perhaps most significantly for its quick response after Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, the Deveney team managed the State Tourism's strategy post BP Oil Spill. With these numerous case studies that show the effectiveness of Deveney's crisis management methods, what they propose just makes sense. This is what John Deveney, president of Deveney Communications, had to say on creativity during a crisis.
This quick article focused on the 4 Hard C's of Crisis Communication and how to integrate the ever important 5th C; creativity.
1. Quick
Don't just rely on typical modes of quick communication, be creative and use resources (eg: hashtags, photo streams) to best communicate message quickly to public.
2. Candid
Consider using other spokespersons other than the CEO in order to provide accurate information with a highly knowledgeable spokesperson who can provide more specific details on the crisis.
3. Place everything in Context
Look beyond the typical crisis response method of communication - what does the organization want to convey to the public, other than the crisis?
4. Remain Consistent
Consider creating expert bureaus who, together, provide a consistent method but in a unique way.
But don't forget to be Creative! Crises can threaten the health of an organization but can also be the source of new and innovative changes and progressions for an organization.
Deveney, John. "Being creative in the face of crisis: How innovation plays a role in communication." Public Relations Society of America. (2011, August 1). Found at http://www.prsa.org/ Intelligence/Tactics/Articles/view/9305/101/Being_creative_in_ the_face_of_crisis_How_innovatio