Respond flexibly to the information situation
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 7:20 am
Many people are very open to emotional messages in times of crisis. It is therefore no wonder that baker Gerald Bosselmann received a lot of attention for a video because he tearfully addressed the hardships of his company and the closures of some businesses. The video went viral on social media and was picked up by numerous media outlets as a good example of crisis communication. But shortly afterwards, a letter appeared on bulletin boards in companies in which Bosselmann threatened his employees with immediate dismissal italy telegram mobile phone number list if they carelessly infected themselves at corona parties or just used the coronavirus as an excuse to take a sick day. He was immediately accused of a lack of empathy. The video seemed hypocritical and the crisis communication inconsistent. This resulted in a shitstorm. But in an interview with Spiegel, Bosselmann responded very cleverly by asking for understanding and apologizing: "I felt like a family man who had to say: this is as far as it goes. And yes, I was off-key, but who wants to blame you for that at a time when nobody knows how long we will survive as a company?... I was just angry and, above all, worried."
5. Transparency is necessary
If someone is in a difficult economic situation, they should deal with it openly, quickly and transparently. Why can a company not provide its services at the moment? Are there delivery bottlenecks for some products? Why are opening hours changing? How is it providing its services? What has changed for the company as a result of the Corona crisis? How are decision-makers reacting to the current situation? In this way, companies increase their credibility and make their actions understandable to everyone. There is a great need for comprehensive information that companies must meet if they want to continue to retain the trust of their employees and customers. Decision-makers who respond very well to this will have a lasting impact on their reputation.
Companies play an important role as information providers and can certainly score points in the corona crisis if they commit to transparency and provide orientation in a confusing information situation. According to the current Edelman Trust Barometer on the corona crisis, 63 percent of respondents trust the information their employer provides about the coronavirus.
Your own crisis communication therefore offers a great opportunity to build and expand trust among internal and external stakeholders.
5. Transparency is necessary
If someone is in a difficult economic situation, they should deal with it openly, quickly and transparently. Why can a company not provide its services at the moment? Are there delivery bottlenecks for some products? Why are opening hours changing? How is it providing its services? What has changed for the company as a result of the Corona crisis? How are decision-makers reacting to the current situation? In this way, companies increase their credibility and make their actions understandable to everyone. There is a great need for comprehensive information that companies must meet if they want to continue to retain the trust of their employees and customers. Decision-makers who respond very well to this will have a lasting impact on their reputation.
Companies play an important role as information providers and can certainly score points in the corona crisis if they commit to transparency and provide orientation in a confusing information situation. According to the current Edelman Trust Barometer on the corona crisis, 63 percent of respondents trust the information their employer provides about the coronavirus.
Your own crisis communication therefore offers a great opportunity to build and expand trust among internal and external stakeholders.