Great Lakes Wire

For several days, a story involving a billion-dollar tech company and its CEO has captured public attention. The incident, which began with an unexpected moment on a stadium "kiss cam," quickly went viral. As the video spread, the company faced leadership changes and issued statements about the unforeseen situation.

This scenario highlights how individual decisions can affect an entire organization. Employees are concerned about job security, clients question stability, and the brand's credibility suffered.

The issue is not exclusive to large companies; it represents a vulnerability for businesses of all sizes. Personal behaviors can create organizational risks. Large companies often have crisis communication teams and legal counsel, but smaller organizations may lack these resources. Preparation is crucial to defend against unexpected events.

A quick-action checklist suggests pausing before making public statements, consulting PR and HR advisors for guidance, aligning leadership with consistent internal messages, maintaining external silence to avoid escalating the situation, protecting trust by reassigning roles if necessary, and following HR policies transparently.

The lesson is clear: while people cannot be controlled, processes and policies can minimize risk. Crisis protocols and media training are essential for all organizations. Preparedness builds confidence and protects reputation during high-stakes moments.

"Preparedness isn’t about fear. It’s about confidence," said Cyndee Harrison, Founder of PR Shield and Synaptic.