Whether it is a finger in your chili at Wendy’s or executive stock trading issues, every organization should be prepared for a crisis.

Who has time to prepare? (I know you don’t, but entertain me for a minute…)

Most corporations in the U.S., even now, do not have an adequate crisis plan.  Industry publications like PR Week have shown several surveys that demonstrate this.  During a recent PRSA-SF crisis communication breakfast, this exact need was discussed. Leaders in the industry discussed real-world scenarios on the proper measures to take during any type of corporate crisis.

As we all know, successful communications during a crisis comes from smart planning, good training and realistic rehearsal. In fact, if done well, preparation and planning may be the key to keeping your company off the evening news. (I bet Paris Hilton wishes she had one.)

Here are some quick steps that I learned when preparing for any crisis:

—Assign responsibilities (Charter a Media Response Team - MTR)

—Anticipate and analyze potential problems  (What is on the horizon in your industry?)

—Prepare a fact sheet (Identify and analyze key publics)

—Establish an internal and external communications system (Prepare contact sheets)

—Prepare for the media, anticipate their questions

—Say what you’ll do and mean what you say (No spin of the truth, save it for Hollywood)

—Write the plan, train the plan, test the plan, and refine the plan

—Update your resume just in case (Kidding of course)

As communications consultants we have to remember that there is no such thing as too much planning.  I guess it is like insurance, better safe than sorry.