Helping you navigate challenging situations that your organisation may face.
Every organisation faces issues from time to time. Some may be relatively straightforward to resolve, while others can develop into complex situations that affect your reputation, relationships and ability to achieve your business goals.
At Cannon PR, we understand that the issues every organisation faces can come from many different directions. Proposed changes to legislation, new regulations, developments within your industry or shifts in public attitudes and perceptions can have significant implications for your organisation. Changes within your organisation, such as restructures, changing working practices or even complaints and disputes, also present challenges that need to be managed carefully.
Effective issues management helps you understand what these developments could mean for your organisation, anticipate how others may respond and make informed decisions about what to do next. Taking the right action at the right time can help you manage the impact, protect important relationships and keep your organisation moving forward.
Not every issue is a crisis
Issues management should not be confused with crisis management. A crisis usually demands an immediate response to an event that has already happened. When you’re dealing with an issue, time is usually on your side.
An issue may develop gradually over weeks, months or even years, and may never become a crisis. However, the way you manage an issue and communicate with those affected can influence how the situation develops and whether it escalates.
Effective issues management means understanding how to communicate effectively, who you need to engage, what needs to be said and, perhaps most importantly of all, the timing.
Understand the situation
Before deciding how to respond to an issue, you need to understand exactly what you are dealing with. That means looking beyond the immediate situation to consider who may be affected, where concerns may arise and what information you need to make an informed decision or take action.
Sometimes, that means gathering more information. Research, consultation and stakeholder feedback can give you a better understanding and provide insight that informs your next steps.
The clearer your understanding of the issue, the better placed you are to develop the right communications response. This means considering what you need to communicate, who you need to engage and how different audiences are likely to respond.
Your issue shapes the response
Understanding an issue is one thing. Knowing how best to address it from a communications perspective is another. Developing the right communications approach can help you understand different perspectives, build support and ultimately shape your future direction.
For example, a planning issue may require consultation and engagement with local residents, elected representatives and other external stakeholders. Changes to working practices might require employee research, focus groups or internal communications to secure buy-in and support, whilst proposed legislation or regulation may call for an approach delivered in collaboration with industry bodies and Members of Parliament to build support for your position.
There is rarely only one way to address an issue. Cannon PR will help you develop an approach focused on achieving your business objectives.
Keeping one step ahead
Issues management isn’t only about dealing with the challenges you face today. Understanding what is happening around your organisation and the environment it operates in can help you identify developments that could affect you in the future.
Spotting an emerging issue early gives you time to understand what it could mean for your organisation and decide whether action is needed. It also creates an opportunity to develop your position, engage with the people who can influence what happens next and make sure your voice is heard before decisions are made.
Not every emerging issue presents a threat. Changes in your industry, new legislation or shifts in public attitudes can also create opportunities to lead the conversation, build support for your position or demonstrate your expertise. Recognising those opportunities early puts you in a stronger position to stay ahead of the competition and influence what happens next.
Support, tailored to your needs
The communications support you need will depend on the issue you are facing, the people involved and what you are trying to achieve.
Cannon PR will provide the insight, advice and practical communications support you need, bringing together the right skills and resources to address the situation effectively, or simply providing additional expertise in a specific area when you need it.
From understanding emerging issues and gathering insight to engaging stakeholders, influencing opinion and managing communications with employees or the media, we can support you at every stage. Our issues management services include:
- Strategy and planning
- Research and insight
- Emerging issues and trends
- Stakeholder mapping
- Consultation and engagement
- Focus groups and workshops
- Internal communications
- Policy and political engagement
- Media relations
- Evaluation