Q&A: Is telling the truth really always a good idea for crisis communications? I see plenty of people caught up in crises who I don’t think are telling the truth.

Telling the truth is an absolute necessity if you or your organization is caught up in a crisis. First, of course, it’s the morally right thing to do. But if morals aren’t your cup of tea, pragmatically it’s the right thing to do. The truth will come out. And if the truth shows you’ve been lying or obfuscating, your credibility is now zero. Ask yourself: How often does the cover-up become worse than the original crime?

At Hennes Communications, we have what we call the Damage Control Playbook for dealing with any crisis. Rule No. 1: Tell the truth.

Got a question about crisis communications, issues management or reputation management? We’ll bet we’ve got an answer. Send your question to: info@hennescommunications.com