Birds chirping. Longer days. Nicer weather.  It’s spring!  We here at Spotlight Communications are really jazzed that it’s finally arrived. However, it seems that with warmer weather, people tend to get a little more lax and let their guards down at work, which, if you’re not careful, can lead to mistakes, blunders, and other less-than-desirable business behaviors.  What to do in the event of a business crisis is something every savvy professional should know. And who better else to serve as teaching examples than our most beloved celebrities and A-listers? So sit back, take in the fresh air, and examine these famous follies in hopes that you’ll be able to avoid some of your own.

Should I Be Worried?
No matter how hard you try, PR challenges are inevitable. Whether it is employee upheaval, an embarrassing news release mistake, a faulty product, or a CEO gone wild, chances are that every business will face some sort of crisis in its history.  This is nothing to freak out about.  Smart people have a plan of action for when things go awry. Not-as-smart people run around like chickens without heads.  Be smart.

Timing is Everything (And Then Some)
Oftentimes, a crisis can be averted by merely using some common sense.  When former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani decided to announce that he was divorcing his second wife, it really didn’t help his image that she had just announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  A little planning can go a long way.  You can’t always control when something bad goes down and gets released to the public—but you can control whether or not you do anything to amplify it or make the situation worse.

Honesty is the Best Policy
When a crisis does happen, it’s OK. Everyone messes up sometimes. But lying about the mistake can dig you deeper in whatever hole you’re in, and hurt your credibility with the public.  Remember Bill Clinton’s little fiasco?  We know it’s not always easy, but just tell the truth.  The public is surprisingly forgiving to those who admit their mistakes, but they’re ruthless when they catch someone in a long, drawn out mega-fib.

Bad Press Doesn’t Have to Stay Bad
So the newspapers are running your company’s or client’s name through the muck back and forth.  Things look bleak.  Relax—there’s hope.  The American public has an incredibly short attention span, and what’s headlining today will be random game show trivia tomorrow.  Britney Spears’ well publicized break with her hubby, Mr. Federline, was seen as a positive move.  But she followed it up with lots of public intoxication, head-shaving, and a rehab stint.  Although she’s a publicist’s nightmare, the wild behavior is keeping her in the public eye, and you can bet her comeback album will be more popular because of it.

The Magic Word
SORRY!  It has so much power, yet it is surprisingly underused in the business world.  When something goes wrong, and people are angered, just apologize.  Letting people know that you’re sorry will ease their tensions and allow you to make up your mistake to them. Don Imus’ recent racist on-air comments have inspired the ire of just about everyone.  Though he’s taken some restorative measures, like apologizing on Rev. Al Sharpton’s radio show, there’s still a whole lot of work ahead of him.  A few simple words, a good dose of planning, and a whole lot of common sense will steer you in the right direction whenever life plops a crisis in your lap.