Today, information spreads quickly everywhere, so leaks to the media are a real concern for businesses. Sometimes, leaks can make your company look bad or give people the wrong idea. Other times, they reveal information the public believes is important and should be shared.
How your organization responds to a leak depends on several factors. One of the most important ones is the type of organization you are. If you’re a government agency funded by taxpayers, most of your documents are public records. In that case, if something is leaked to the media, you should be forthcoming in your response.
If your organization is private, leaks might catch you completely off guard. You’ll need to find out what was leaked and how it could affect your company. If the leak involves a legal issue, you may not be able to comment. But if the information is unfair or makes your company look bad, you might want to respond publicly to set the record straight.
Every situation is different, so it’s important to have experienced communicators on your team to help decide the best response.
You can take steps now to prepare by creating a crisis communications plan. If you don’t have one, start building it. Decide who would lead during a crisis, what messages you’d need to share, who your audiences are, and how people might react if negative news about your organization gets out. While a plan won’t cover every detail, it gives you a framework to make better decisions when things get tough.
One of the most important audiences when negative information is leaked is your employees. Before talking to reporters or others outside the company, make sure your team knows what’s happening and why. Share what you can and explain how you’re handling the situation.
Leaks can happen by accident or through cyberattacks. Train your employees on how to handle sensitive information, and make sure they know what they can and cannot share outside the company.
If sensitive information is leaked publicly, follow your crisis communications plan. If you don’t have a plan or need more help, reach out to the associates at Tucker/Hall.
