Crisis Leadership Blog

Insights and perspectives on being the lighthouse during a crisis.
The Best Way to Handle Fear

The Best Way to Handle Fear

There is no doubt about it … fear during a crisis is 100% real. Fear that you don’t have all the answers. Fear that you’ll show too much vulnerability to your team. Fear that your business won’t be able to recover from the issue at hand. Or fear that your efforts to...

read more
When Controversy Snowballs into Crisis

When Controversy Snowballs into Crisis

The Washington Post has been shaking things up lately, especially in its opinion section. Owner Jeff Bezos just announced a shift to focus on "personal liberties and free markets," which led to the resignation of respected opinion editor David Shipley.  This move,...

read more
(Un)Welcoming a One-Drink Minimum Policy

(Un)Welcoming a One-Drink Minimum Policy

A few weeks ago, Starbucks announced that it would be ending its open-door policy, which allowed people to use the store's seating and restrooms even if they didn't make a purchase. The company stated that the change was made to "enhance" the customer experience....

read more
When an Apology Isn’t an Apology

When an Apology Isn’t an Apology

Saying “I’m sorry” shouldn’t be hard. When we say or do something that hurts someone else, then we as humans should own it, apologize for it, and try to make it right. But, many public apologies seem to miss this relatively easy target. Is someone sincerely...

read more

By definition, Kith means a cadre of peers who shape opinions and attitudes while instilling sophisticated habits for action. As a way to live this value, we like to share resources that are building blocks to good crisis management and can help you start the path of protecting your reputation.

More Recent Insights
Putting a Positive Spin on a Bad Break
Putting a Positive Spin on a Bad Break

It was an SNL skit that wrote itself. Australian breakdancer Raygun was thoroughly lampooned for her amateur performance at the 2024 Summer Games, called a disgrace to her country, and criticized for “making a mockery” of the sport. She went viral in all the ways a person or company doesn’t want to go viral. The athlete, Australia, and the sport of...

read more
The Perils of a Shallow Apology
The Perils of a Shallow Apology

It can be incredibly difficult as a business to publicly admit that you made a misstep.  Savvy executives and communicators know the importance of making a timely mea culpa statement that demonstrates ownership and empathy, and clearly outlines steps being taken to support impacted consumers and stakeholders. Less savvy leaders may fumble an apology,...

read more
Who Matters the Most in a Crisis?
Who Matters the Most in a Crisis?

Stakeholders has become a term we hear bandied about all of the time. And it's an important one. Whether internal or external, the people who buy from you, work for you, or champion your brand matter. But, it is critical to ask, “ Who matters most to you and your organization?”  When thinking about a crisis and the issues that are most vital at a...

read more
Owning a Mistake that’s Not Yours
Owning a Mistake that’s Not Yours

Do you remember Chi-Chi’s? If you do, you are probably wondering what happened to them. If you don’t, then take this as a cautionary tale. Chi-Chi’s was a Mexican casual restaurant chain that was all the rage in the 80s and 90s. With more than 200 locations in five countries as well as a supermarket line (which still exists), the future was bright. Until a...

read more
Scaling Your CEO for Better Crisis Response
Scaling Your CEO for Better Crisis Response

At Kith, we have seen CEOs rise during a crisis and we have seen others stumble. The difference often comes down to what they focus on during the crisis at hand.  As your most senior leader, a CEO can be one of the most important assets your organization can deploy when responding to a crisis. However, just because he or she may be first in command does...

read more
How to Dig Out of a Mess of Your Own Creation
How to Dig Out of a Mess of Your Own Creation

The headlines were unsettling, not shocking at first. But when UnitedHealth, the healthcare behemoth responsible for processing 50 percent of all US patient medical claims annually, revealed it was the victim of a ransomware attack described as “the most serious incident leveled against a US healthcare organization,” alarm bells went off everywhere. ...

read more
When a Publicity Stunt Backfires
When a Publicity Stunt Backfires

There are times (April Fool’s Day, I’m looking at you) when a company decides to pull a publicity stunt to see how big a splash they can make. They engage in intentional misrepresentation – of their business’ product, service, or brand – pushed out as a cheeky, hardy-har-har prank. Sometimes the joke lands, but other times it backfires. Regardless of how...

read more
Are You Warm Blooded or Cold Blooded?
Are You Warm Blooded or Cold Blooded?

At Kith, we often say that a crisis does not develop your leadership skills – it reveals them. It also reveals what type of creature you are: warm blooded or cold blooded.  Now, obviously, humans are warm blooded as a matter of biology, so what we’re really asking you to consider is more about your “creature” style as a leader-communicator when faced with...

read more
The Three Behaviors that Feed a Crisis: Ostrich Effect
The Three Behaviors that Feed a Crisis: Ostrich Effect

Do you think you know what causes a reputational crisis? At least have a good guess? I’m here to tell you that it’s likely not what you think. It's a lack of preparation.   There is that pithy statement that you see on notepads, signs on desks, and as gifs – lack of preparation on your part does not necessitate an emergency on mine. When it comes to crisis...

read more

The Kith Method

Good crisis management comes from a plan. Great crisis management comes from capability – and starts before you even smell smoke. That’s why we developed the Kith Method. We can help build and maintain a flexible capability that works for you.

Your reputation is an investment; time-consuming and costly to build and expensive to repair. Protect it.