How do you use external partners and stakeholders in crisis management?

1 Identify your external partners and stakeholders

The first step in using external partners and stakeholders in crisis management is to identify who they are and what their roles and expectations are. You can use a stakeholder analysis tool to map out their interests, power, impact, and communication needs. This will help you prioritize and tailor your engagement with them during a crisis. You should also establish clear and regular channels of communication with your external partners and stakeholders, and build trust and rapport with them before a crisis occurs.

2 Involve them in your crisis planning

The second step in using external partners and stakeholders in crisis management is to involve them in your crisis planning. You can consult them on your crisis scenarios, risk assessments, contingency plans, and response protocols. You can also invite them to participate in your crisis simulations, drills, or exercises, and solicit their feedback and suggestions. This will help you align your objectives, strategies, and resources with them, and enhance your coordination and collaboration during a crisis.

3 Communicate with them during a crisis

The third step in using external partners and stakeholders in crisis management is to communicate with them during a crisis. You should keep them informed of the situation, your actions, and your outcomes, and address their concerns and questions. You should also listen to their inputs, opinions, and feedback, and acknowledge their contributions and support. You should use clear, consistent, and transparent messages, and choose the appropriate channels and tone for your communication. You should also monitor and manage their perceptions, expectations, and reactions, and avoid any misinformation or miscommunication.

4 Support them after a crisis

The fourth step in using external partners and stakeholders in crisis management is to support them after a crisis. You should follow up with them on the impacts, lessons learned, and improvements made from the crisis, and thank them for their cooperation and assistance. You should also provide them with any resources, guidance, or assistance they may need to recover from the crisis, and address any issues or challenges they may face. You should also maintain and strengthen your relationships with them, and seek opportunities for mutual learning and growth.

5 Benefit from their expertise and resources

The fifth step in using external partners and stakeholders in crisis management is to benefit from their expertise and resources. You can leverage their knowledge, skills, experience, or networks to help you understand, analyze, or solve your crisis problems. You can also access their resources, such as equipment, facilities, funding, or personnel, to help you cope with, mitigate, or overcome your crisis challenges. You can also learn from their best practices, innovations, or solutions, and adopt or adapt them to your own context.

6 Share your value and impact

The sixth step in using external partners and stakeholders in crisis management is to share your value and impact. You should demonstrate how your organization contributes to the common goals, interests, or values of your external partners and stakeholders, and how your crisis management enhances your performance, reputation, or sustainability. You should also highlight how your external partners and stakeholders benefit from your crisis management, and how their involvement adds value to your organization. You should also showcase your achievements, successes, or recognition, and celebrate them with your external partners and stakeholders.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?