What is Crisis Management?

Crisis management is the preparation and execution of strategies to handle unexpected events and minimise their impact on your organisation. Large-scale emergencies—natural disasters, cyber-attacks, global financial shocks—don’t automatically damage a brand’s reputation. They must be addressed swiftly and correctly, but customers don’t necessarily blame a business just because such events occur.
By contrast, preventable crises caused by oversight or poor decisions can quickly drag an organisation’s name through the mud.

This is where crisis management matters: it’s how a company responds to unexpected, high-impact problems. Because crises take different forms, you may need multiple crisis plans—a national carrier’s plan for a terror threat will differ from its plan for a hurricane.

Why Crisis Management Matters

Your crisis capability can save—or sink—your company in the face of natural disasters, cyber incidents, technology failures, or economic downturns. Whether the event is unexpected or a known risk, a crisis plan reduces potential harm and clarifies who does what, when—so you’re ready for the worst and know your next move.

Types of Crisis Management

Different sources list different types. Common categories include:

• Proactive crisis management: planning to prevent crises or reduce their impact (e.g., contingency funding; backup production facilities).
• Reputation crises: building a crisis communication programme to protect brand image amid negative publicity, scandals or controversy.
• Natural-disaster response: earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires—requiring rapid response and recovery.
• People/HR crises: workplace accidents, misconduct, labour disputes.

Objectives of Crisis Management

• Protect safety & welfare: implement emergency response plans; provide timely, accurate information; act to reduce hazards and risks.
• Minimise operational disruption: maintain business continuity and keep mission-critical functions running.
• Enable clear crisis communication: establish open, transparent channels to inform stakeholders and provide updates—using traditional media, social media and internal platforms.
• Protect reputation & brand: act with honesty, transparency and empathy to preserve trust.

How the Crisis Management Process Works

Think of this as your crisis management plan—a playbook outlining how the business will respond:

• Form the crisis leadership team. Identify the people who will act during a crisis.
• Assess risks. Brainstorm the threats your organisation could face.
• Analyse business impact. For each risk, map potential consequences (customer loss, reputational damage, delayed sales, lost revenue).
• Define actions. For every priority risk, specify the response steps and owners. (E.g., in a cyber-attack: secure the network; notify customers.)
• Review & update. Stress-test the plan, close gaps, and revisit at least annually as risks evolve.

Our Crisis Services

With Indeks crisis communication consultancy you can protect your company and respond effectively:

• Spokesperson training – equip leaders to deliver the right messages in the moment.
• Crisis-time content – statements, Q&As, press notes and other copy.
• Crisis communication programme – before, during and after the crisis: risk analysis, scenario planning, stakeholder messaging, post-crisis strategy.
• Role-playing & simulations – exercises built on likely scenarios.
• Media management in crisis – press conference management and stronger media relations.

What is Crisis Communication Consultancy?

A professional service that protects the reputation of individuals, brands and institutions and builds effective communication strategies before, during and after a crisis.

• Pre-crisis: risk analysis, scenario planning, communication guide, spokesperson training.
• In-crisis: strategy, message architecture, channel mix and timing.
• Post-crisis: reputation repair and reassurance—perception management, community & media re-engagement, lessons-learned and preventative measures.

Why it matters

Poorly managed crises can severely damage reputation and finances—even lead to failure. The right consultancy helps you manage public perception, reduce financial loss and act quickly, minimising both tangible and intangible harm.