Effective Communication in a Crisis
A practical two day course focused on leadership communication, decision making and information management during high pressure incidents and crisis situations.
When incidents happen, communication can either create control or create chaos.
Effective Communication in a Crisis is designed for organisations, managers and operational teams who may need to communicate clearly, confidently and credibly during emergencies, critical incidents, disruptive events or rapidly developing situations.
The course focuses on real world crisis communication challenges including internal communication, public messaging, stakeholder reassurance, misinformation, decision making under pressure and maintaining confidence during uncertain situations.
Course Overview
In many incidents the biggest failure is not always the initial event. It is the confusion, delay, misinformation and lack of coordinated communication that follows.
This course has been developed around the realities of modern crisis environments where information moves rapidly, public scrutiny is immediate and poor communication decisions can quickly damage trust, reputation and operational control.
Current UK resilience and crisis communication guidance places significant emphasis on preparation, internal communication structures, stakeholder management and maintaining clear communication during disruptive incidents.
Learners explore how communication affects behaviour, decision making and public confidence during emergencies. The course examines communication across a range of scenarios including operational incidents, safety issues, reputational events, staff emergencies, disruptive protests, serious accidents, hostile incidents and rapidly evolving situations.
Practical exercises and realistic scenarios form a major part of the programme, helping learners develop confidence communicating under pressure while balancing accuracy, reassurance, operational priorities and reputational risk.
Unlike traditional PR focused crisis communication courses, this programme is designed around operational leadership, incident response and real time communication challenges faced by organisations and frontline decision makers.
About the Trainer
Training is delivered by experienced operational professionals with backgrounds in public safety, emergency planning, incident command, policing, crisis response and organisational resilience.
Our approach is practical, realistic and operationally focused. Learners are supported to understand not only what should be communicated during a crisis, but when, how and why communication decisions directly influence behaviour, confidence and incident outcomes.
The course is highly interactive and designed to reflect the pressures, uncertainty and scrutiny that often exist during real incidents.
What Does the Course Include?
- Learner resources and course materials
- Crisis communication frameworks and guidance
- Scenario based communication exercises
- Incident communication templates and tools
- Practical stakeholder and media management exercises
- Practical participation throughout the course
- Scenario based crisis communication exercises
- Group incident management activities
- Trainer observation and feedback
- Communication and leadership focused roleplay
- Experienced and supportive instructors
- Coaching throughout practical exercises
- Opportunity to discuss organisational specific risks and challenges
- Guidance tailored to operational environments and leadership roles
- Effective Communication in a Crisis certificate
- Two day practical crisis communication course
- Incident leadership and communication training
- Certification provided on successful completion
Learning Outcomes
- Understand how communication influences crisis outcomes
- Communicate more effectively during high pressure situations
- Understand internal and external communication priorities during incidents
- Manage information flow during rapidly evolving situations
- Recognise the impact of misinformation, delay and uncertainty
- Deliver clearer and more reassuring communication under pressure
- Support staff, stakeholders and affected persons during incidents
- Understand communication considerations relating to reputation and public confidence
- Apply structured communication principles during operational incidents
- Build greater confidence leading communication during crisis situations
Who Is This Course For?
Senior managers and operational leaders
Crisis management teams
Event and venue managers
Education and safeguarding leaders
Hospitality and leisure management teams
Communications and operations personnel
Security and control room teams
Local authority and public facing organisations
Business continuity and resilience teams
Organisations responsible for public safety and stakeholder communication
- Duration: 2 Days
- Level: Certificate
- Delivery: In Person
- Awarding Body: 1705 Consultancy
- Start Date: Flexible
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Enrol today and start working towards your qualification at a pace that suits you. Our team are on hand to answer any questions.