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Description

Crisis Communication: Anticipate, Speak Out and Manage Recovery

Prepare your response framework and messages before events start dictating the pace

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • All levels
  • Up to 6 participants

A crisis leaves little time, and the first hours often determine everything that follows. Without a designated spokesperson or prepared messaging, an organisation responds in disarray, contradicts itself and fuels the very controversy it set out to contain.

These two days cover the three phases of a crisis: anticipation through risk mapping and message preparation, management during the event through the crisis unit and the spokesperson, and finally the recovery phase. Exercises are built around a scenario that unfolds under strict time pressure.

Learning objectives

  • Map the crisis scenarios to which the organisation is exposed
  • Prepare a crisis response framework and assign roles
  • Draft messaging that will hold up over time
  • Organise media and social media engagement
  • Inform internal audiences alongside external ones
  • Conduct a debrief once the crisis has subsided

What makes this programme different

A crisis simulation run under strict time pressure with information released in stages
Drafting of initial messages under pressure followed by group analysis
Every participant leaves with a response framework template adapted to their organisation

Programme

1Anticipating

Risks, scenarios and response framework

  • Identify events likely to escalate
  • Assess the organisation's exposure across its audiences
  • Set up the crisis unit and allocate roles
  • Prepare materials and the contacts you can mobilise

2Speaking Out

Messages, spokesperson and media

  • Draft messaging that will hold up over time
  • Prepare the spokesperson for a journalist interview
  • Decide what to say and what to withhold for now
  • Respond without fuelling the controversy

3Holding the Line During the Crisis

Pace, social media and internal audiences

  • Organise monitoring and track reactions
  • Post on social media at the pace imposed by events
  • Inform employees before or at the same time as external audiences
  • Coordinate statements from the various spokespersons

4Exiting the Crisis

Return to normal and lessons learned

  • Decide when crisis communication should stop
  • Communicate again on the measures taken
  • Rebuild relationships with the audiences affected
  • Conduct the debrief and update the response framework

Who is it for

Communication managers and officers, executives and members of crisis units.

Prerequisites

No prior knowledge required

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.