Published:  April 12th, 2007

427 words.

Reading time:  2 minutes.

How to Handle A Crisis.

(Don't Do What Imus Did.)

 by Dov Gordon

From time to time we face crises and need to know how to live through it successfully.  Don Imus, a popular talk radio host in the U.S. is currently embroiled in a crisis situation of his own making and he doesn’t seem to be handling it very well.

In his April 4^th, 2007 radio broadcast Imus used a disparaging term (the meaning of which I am pleased to say I only partially understand) to describe the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, causing an uproar.

Imus hasn’t handled the repercussions very well, choosing to make an obsequious apology on, of all places, Al Sharpton’s radio show.  Despite the apology, Sharpton and other opportunists continue to call on the networks to fire Imus and on advertisers to boycott his show.  CBS suspended him for two weeks and MSNBC dropped him altogether.  Advertisers scampered.

There is a difference between a crisis and an emergency, writes Alan Weiss in his book “The Unofficial Guide to Power Managing.”  When a fire rages or a colleague bends over with a heart attack you act immediately.  Those are emergencies.  Crises, however, actually afford more time for thinking.   To handle a crisis successfully, we must utilize the initial moments for clear, rational thought rather than rushing to respond.

Instead of apologizing and retaining his dignity by not allowing his pejorative slip of the tongue to be blown out of proportion, Imus seems to have panicked and subjected himself to the agenda of Al Sharpton & Co.  Sharpton and his cronies do not care for principle.  They are simply delighted with any opportunity to frolic in the spotlight.

With more time to think about what he was trying to accomplish in the aftermath of his slip of the tongue, the articulate Imus might have apologized and then launched a swift counter attack.  If Sharpton cares so much for black women, why is he silent about radio shows playing rap songs whose lyrics make Imus sound like a lily-white toddler.

I don’t listen to the Imus show and from the little I know of him, I doubt society would be worse off if he is taken off the air.  But there are lessons here about dealing with crises:

Slow down long enough to get a proper understanding of the situation.  Don’t panic.  Do get the facts.  Don’t rush to act before you know clearly what outcome you are after.  Don’t be distracted by loud, irrational voices.

In short, don’t do what Imus did.

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 Caught in a crises?  The Gordon Group can help.  When facing a crisis your thinking must be crystal clear.  Don’t go it alone.  Let us work with you to contain the damage, identify your real objectives, plan the steps and work with you as you execute.

Resources for executives, managers and business leaders:

1.     Dov Gordon's audio book, “If You Are Implementing Your Strategy – You Don’t Have One:  How to Control and Grow Your Business.”  Got to www.Superior-Strategy.com and listen to the first 25 minutes on me.

Read what others say about this audio book:

"The greatest compliment I can give a book or audio program is, 'It caused me to take action.' The second best is, 'It made me think.'  Dov's audio and workbook program, 'If You Are 'Implementing' Your Strategy—You Don't Have One,' accomplishes both—and I do strategy consulting!"     

-- Bruce Johnson, President, Make it Remarkable, LLC.  (In a past life, Bruce founded and led his church from two to two thousand members.) www.BruceDJohnson.com

“Dov, your audio book on strategic thinking presents a philosophy and process that is clearer, more sensible and more actionable than any other approach I’ve seen.  Additionally, I enjoyed the numerous real life examples you used to illustrate your points, especially the story of the Curta.  - Skip Weisman, President, Weisman Success Resources, Inc.  www.WeismanSuccessResources.com

 

2.      "The Unofficial Guide to Power Managing" by Alan Weiss has a very useful section on managing in times of crises.

3.      Michelle Malkin’s article listing rap lyrics that don’t seem to bother Reverend Sharpton.  http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YmM3ZGEwOWE2NWRlYWM2N2ZkY2Q3MWNlNmU1MTlhN2M=

Dov Gordon’s coaching and consulting helps business leaders in organizations of any size, around the world, to sharpen their focus, open their eyes to blind spots and take greater control over their businesses.  To find out how you could benefit contact Dov.   dov@gordongroupec.com

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Archives of The CEO Thought-Provoker™ are here:  http://www.gordongroupec.com/articles.html

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Dov Gordon helps senior executives at small and mid-sized companies around the world to earn the respect and admiration of their marketplace.  Clients benefit from clarifying their strategies, sharpening their focus, better decision making, improved teamwork and growing into great leaders.

Management and Strategy Consulting.

Executive Coaching.

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See our recommended reading list at:   www.GordonGroupEC.com/books.html         

Copyright 2007 © by Dov Gordon.  All rights reserved.