Effective Communication Strategies in Crisis Situations

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Steps of Notifying Others
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Communication Crisis is a condition in which the parties involved in an incident, or those affected by it, cannot communicate effectively. There are various causes of communication crises, but one common cause is that communications become ambiguous, resulting in miscommunication (Uitdewilligen & Waller, 2018, p. 733). However, there can be more severe situations where a situation spirals out of control. Faced with this situation, having past experiences from similar situations and understanding how ordinary people react under these conditions will help you resolve the situation and prevent further escalation. This paper will discuss how communication efficiently during an incident can determine the success or failure of an organization’s recovery.

Steps of Notifying Others

As the resource officer (SRO), my first step would be to notify the school’s principal and the police department. I would inform them that an unknown armed male in the school has shot at children and is now moving toward the cafeteria. Notifying the school principal is because they are in charge of the school’s day-to-day operations. They will be able to tell me where everyone is and what needs to be done next. Additionally, I would call for additional resources and assistance from other agencies, such as SWAT teams and hostage negotiators. I would further call 911 to report this incident to receive immediate assistance in containing this threat (Uitdewilligen & Waller, 2018, p. 736). The officer on duty in the front office would then alert those within immediate earshot, including any teachers or staff present.

I would immediately head toward the cafeteria and report my location to dispatch. I would then wait for orders from dispatch as to what action to take next. If it is determined that we have an active shooter situation, I will tell all personnel to lock down until further notice. At this point, I will inform staff members through a PA system or walkie-talkie that an active shooter is occurring within the building and cannot be accessed without prior authorization. I shall further notify all employees not currently on campus about this situation so they can stay safe in their homes until further notice.

Additionally, I would immediately set up a perimeter around the school and begin issuing commands to students, faculty, and staff to “get down.” Start issuing commands for everyone to meet at one of two classrooms designated as safe zones (Uitdewilligen & Waller, 2018, p. 741).

Then I will order all students and staff under my command inside these rooms until I can determine if they are safe. I would also instruct all other personnel in my command area to remain inside until directed otherwise by another higher-ranking officer present at this time or me. At this point, I would also notify parents of any students at risk and their immediate family or guardians. I would be communicating with them via phone or email those who have been notified by their children what is happening and directing them where they can find their children if they cannot reach them themselves while they are in hiding inside a safe zone classroom designated as such by the school’s immediate needs at this time. Parents of these students may wish to bring them home from school until it can be confirmed that the threat has passed.

Conclusion

Any organization should implement a communication strategy with a crisis plan in place. So, it is crucial that the strategies used in preparation for a scenario be manageable and relevant to possible crises. The strategies should be flexible so they can be used in any incident or scenario efficiently and effectively. Additionally, it is essential to communicate with those involved in an incident or crisis. Communication should be timely and provide consistent information.

References

Uitdewilligen, S., & Waller, M. J. (2018). Information sharing and decision‐making in multidisciplinary crisis management teams. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 39(6), 731-748. Web.

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Effective Communication Strategies in Crisis Situations

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