The purpose of a crisis management team is to lead and coordinate individuals, communicate important information to all departments, and analyze the problem and potential damage.

Crisis management team roles:

• Department Heads
• Executive Team
• Board of Directors representative
• Communications and Marketing Managers
• Human Resources

This core group will analyze the circumstances, develop a plan of action, and implement it to minimize damage resulting from the crisis.

Team attributes include:

Performs Under Pressure

A crisis will push everyone to their limits, and someone who cannot perform under pressure will break down, which will be detrimental to the team. Team members should be level-headed and able to set aside their emotions so they don’t feel overwhelmed.

Strong Analytical Skills

Because these people are leading the initiative and solving the problem, everyone needs strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. This will ensure you reach the best conclusion as efficiently as possible. All team members should be competent at analyzing and solving problems as they arise. Each member needs to be able to solve problems on their own so they are not a drain on resources.

Communicates Clearly and Efficiently

Each team member will likely be called on at some point to address an audience and share information about the crisis. Poor communication skills can be detrimental to the team’s mission. It is best if your leadership communicates a strong message and everyone on the team is clear on it.

Has a Collaborative Mindset

As a team, you each have strengths and weaknesses, and you must work together to develop the best plan and solution. Any team member, regardless of their skills, will be working against the team if they cannot work with the team.

If you have questions about building a crisis management team, contact Darren Richards at 813.228.0652 or via email at drichards@tuckerhall.com to learn how Tucker/Hall can assist you in navigating your crisis.