Post-Crisis: Debrief in 2 Parts, Include Lawyers and Avoid Finger-Pointing

[Editor’s Note: This edition’s dialogue looks at post-crisis debriefs, often a neglected topic.

Indeed, our dialoguers April Margulies, founder, Trust Relations, and Thomas Graham, president, Crosswind Media & Public Relations, tell us it’s often a chore to schedule post-crisis sessions. “Nobody wants to air their dirty laundry,” Margulies says. Adds Graham, it’s a luxury to have the time to “press pause” and consider what worked or didn’t during a crisis. Most of the time, he says, companies are moving so fast, facing other situations, there’s little time to stop.

On the other hand, Margulies and Graham highly recommend debriefing, both in a preliminary session right after a crisis and weeks later, where a more detailed discussion occurs.

In addition, they urge including lawyers when circumstances dictate and discussing negatives and positives, though avoiding finger-pointing.

Margulies and Graham also discuss why not every bad event should be called a crisis.

Their remarks were lightly edited.]

Crisis Insider: What makes a good crisis debrief? When should you schedule it? Who should be here?