{Member Insights} Carry On Through COVID-19

The FACC-NY network is composed of a diverse mosaic of talented, experienced and open-hearted professionals united by a desire to share their knowledge, nurture meaningful connections and succeed professionally. In this new Member Insights series, we invite a guest member to contribute timely and relevant tips for adapting your activities to overcome immediate challenges and plan for the long-term. 

Nancy Prenctice is the Founder and Strategic Content Provider at The Next Write. Nancy is an award-winning and innovative communications freelancer with a robust work ethic and over 20 years’ experience as an advertising, marketing, and sales professional across publishing, fashion, luxury goods, start-up, and not-for-profit sectors. Below, she shares tips for crisis communications, communicating in a remote work environment and mastering your communications tone. 

It’s Time to Use that Corporate Go-Bag 

During this period of uncertainty, there is one sure thing: No company should be silent. Maybe you have a well-thought-out strategic plan in place, or like some, you threw some stuff into the communications emergency kit without giving real thought to how or when you might use any of it. Crisis management is a broad topic with entire books written to address and advise, but there are some basics for leading with strategy and maintaining brand connection during a disaster. Keeping the information flowing can support companies and brands; here are some best practices:  

• Take proactive internal steps to minimize threat (remote officing, hygiene practices, travel restriction, staggered shifts) and risk (cost-cutting, contingency planning, technology-based communication).

• Increase top-down communication internally to acknowledge and recognize stress and challenge. Consistently update on protocols, providing specifics about how you are maintaining operations for employees and services for clients. 
• Step up engagement with stakeholders. Adjust your message to convey a unified and transparent front. Temper the tone for the times.  
• Speak with clarity about the current or short-term situation. Talking about the “now” is plausible, and, understandably, you will not have accurate or quantifiable details about the future.  
• Provide the tools and technology necessary to support your team for meetings and messaging.  There is now a plethora of players and platforms available including: Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom, WebEx, Slack, Google Hangouts, SharePoint, Jabber, WhatsApp – even House Party. Stay present on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Global confinement has unleashed oodles of eyeballs onto the web.   

• Stay positive by pushing out encouragement in any form that works for you. That can mean virtually anything from conferencing to cocktails to yoga.  
• Flatten the hierarchy along with the curve. Becoming part of the kindness consciousness is rewarding on many levels. Employers are giving up salaries; hospitality is offering food and lodging, fashion icons are designing masks, manufacturers are reinventing. The coronavirus collaborations are too numerous to mention (although my favorite is Neiman Marcus and JOANN Fabric). How will you create your corporate legacy?  

‘Compassion’ Outranks ‘Chief’ in C-Suite 

Watching what you say and how you say it might seem simple but might be the most critical strategy. An overwhelming intake of messaging has triggered a real appreciation for sincerity. We can see whether someone’s phoning it in – or if we can buy into the DNA. Trust is a guide that leads employees, investors, and clients through the worst of times. Assertions of “We’re With You” and “We’re In This Together” now need to follow through with (empathetic) elaboration. And to those who declare “We Are Family,” there are some cousins at GoFundMe who could use your help.  

Connect with Nancy by logging into the FACC Member Directory to send her a message.