I’m in the process of prepping a global crisis simulation for a multinational corporation. The other day, our brilliant client lead came to me and said “I can’t believe I’m bringing this up, but we need to add a Canada component. For the first time, we have to worry about the differences between the U.S. and Canada and how it affects our readiness. And you speak Canadian.”
Yes, I do speak Canadian. If you’ve known me for more than 5 minutes, you know that I proudly grew up in Canada. I’ve had the honor of working in the U.S. House and Senate and the Canadian House and Cabinet. I speak Canadian. Here are some lessons this perspective has given me. They apply to Canada, but also the rest of the world and across industries.
The Lessons:
1. Regardless of your political persuasion, you have to contend with decades-long norms being thrown out the window. Evaluate your operations, supply chain and employee base to see where friction has developed.
2. If you work across borders, realize that emotions have changed and, in many ways, you have people struggling with patriotism and company loyalty. This applies to employees and other stakeholders. Start conversations.
3. If you do business with governments or are regulated by governments, the landscape has changed. Figure it out how and fast.
4. If you are a retailer, you need to factor in anger being taken out on your brand. Evaluate your marketing and communications so you can thread the needle of being local and an American company.
5. Above all, recognize that this global unease is not just an economic crisis. There are emotions attached, which can result in a multitude of challenges. Identify them now and begin to address the issues before a manageable situation becomes a crisis.
If you know of anyone that needs translation services, I’m happy to help.
P.S. I’m also the daughter of a Mountie.
Kith facilitates crisis preparedness workshops that will help your company attain the clarity, trust, and speed you need to respond confidently – no dithering! – to any crisis. We’d be happy to have a conversation about how we can help your company be ready to chart an effective course to reputation protection.
