Go offline with the Player FM app!
Podcasts Worth a Listen
SPONSORED


Building Higher Ed Crisis Management and Communication Muscle
Manage episode 430406506 series 2436173
Higher education institutions are facing a perfect storm of challenges that demand robust crisis management skills. From campus protests reminiscent of the 1960s to the lightning-fast spread of information (and misinformation) on social media, colleges and universities are navigating treacherous waters. How can they stay afloat – and even thrive – in this turbulent environment?
Crisis Management in Higher Education: Strategies for Institutional Resilience
Dr. Drumm McNaughton, CEO of The Change Leader higher education consulting firm, and guest Stephanie Craig, President of Kith crisis preparation, response, and recovery firm, discuss essential strategies for building crisis management and communication capabilities in higher education institutions.
Key Discussion Points
Higher Education's Unique Crisis Management Challenges:
- The complex stakeholder environment in higher education is reminiscent of the turbulent 1960s but with added dimensions of social media and 24-hour news cycles.
- The impact of poorly handled crises on various aspects of institutional operations, from student recruitment to donor confidence.
Building Crisis Management Muscle: The PIP2 Approach:
- Plan: Develop comprehensive crisis strategies and response protocols.
- Invest: Allocating resources for crisis preparedness, including training and technology.
- Practice: Conducting regular crisis simulations to identify weaknesses and build muscle memory.
- Prioritize: Embedding crisis preparedness in institutional culture at all levels.
The Clarity + Trust = Speed Formula:
- Clarity: Ensuring a clear understanding of institutional mission, values, and stakeholder priorities.
- Trust: Building trust within crisis management teams and with key stakeholders.
- Speed: Responding quickly and decisively to crises without sacrificing accuracy.
Stakeholder Management in Higher Education Crises:
- Navigating the diverse and often conflicting interests of multiple stakeholder groups.
- Tailoring communication strategies to different stakeholder needs and preferences.
The Role of Leadership and Second-Level Thinking:
- The importance of leadership visibility and engagement during crises.
- Employing "second-level thinking" to anticipate the ripple effects of decisions and communications.
Integrating Risk Management and Crisis Communication:
- The collaboration between risk management and communication teams.
- Breaking down silos to ensure comprehensive crisis response strategies.
Opportunities in Crisis: Catalysts for Institutional Innovation:
- Recognizing crises as potential drivers of positive change and innovation.
- Examples of institutional transformation sparked by crisis situations.
Three Key Takeaways for Higher Education Presidents and Boards
- Invest in crisis management now, prioritizing preparation as a matter of urgency.
- Implement the PIP2 approach (Plan, Invest, Practice, Prioritize) to build crisis management muscle.
- Adopt the Clarity + Trust = Speed formula for effective crisis response.
Read the transcript on our website at: https://changinghighered.com/ building-higher-ed-crisis-management-and-communication-muscle/
#HigherEducation #HigherEdRiskManagement #CrisisManagement
About Our Podcast Guest
Stephanie Craig is the President of Kith.co, where she provides strategic guidance and solutions for high-stakes issues and challenges faced by C-suite executives, high-profile organizations, and elected officials. She has built her reputation as a crisis expert by guiding some of the world’s most prominent people and organizations through their most trying moments. Combining her deep experience in politics, media, and business, she mitigates crises, repairs reputations, and inoculates against future crises. Stephanie has counted former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the mayor of the nation’s 10th largest city, and some of the most notable global brands, as well as institutes of higher education, as clients. Stephanie is a prolific author on topics including crisis communications, reputational management, political communication, the intersection of law and communications, and entrepreneurship. If asked, she’ll even talk about being born in the Arctic.
About the Host
Dr. Drumm McNaughton is the founder, CEO, and Principal Consultant at The Change Leader, Inc. A highly sought-after higher education consultant with 20+ years of experience, Dr. McNaughton works with leadership, management, and boards of both U.S. and international institutions. His expertise spans key areas, including accreditation, governance, strategic planning, presidential onboarding, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances. Dr. McNaughton’s approach combines a holistic methodology with a deep understanding of the contemporary and evolving challenges facing higher education institutions worldwide to ensure his clients succeed in their mission.
269 episodes
Manage episode 430406506 series 2436173
Higher education institutions are facing a perfect storm of challenges that demand robust crisis management skills. From campus protests reminiscent of the 1960s to the lightning-fast spread of information (and misinformation) on social media, colleges and universities are navigating treacherous waters. How can they stay afloat – and even thrive – in this turbulent environment?
Crisis Management in Higher Education: Strategies for Institutional Resilience
Dr. Drumm McNaughton, CEO of The Change Leader higher education consulting firm, and guest Stephanie Craig, President of Kith crisis preparation, response, and recovery firm, discuss essential strategies for building crisis management and communication capabilities in higher education institutions.
Key Discussion Points
Higher Education's Unique Crisis Management Challenges:
- The complex stakeholder environment in higher education is reminiscent of the turbulent 1960s but with added dimensions of social media and 24-hour news cycles.
- The impact of poorly handled crises on various aspects of institutional operations, from student recruitment to donor confidence.
Building Crisis Management Muscle: The PIP2 Approach:
- Plan: Develop comprehensive crisis strategies and response protocols.
- Invest: Allocating resources for crisis preparedness, including training and technology.
- Practice: Conducting regular crisis simulations to identify weaknesses and build muscle memory.
- Prioritize: Embedding crisis preparedness in institutional culture at all levels.
The Clarity + Trust = Speed Formula:
- Clarity: Ensuring a clear understanding of institutional mission, values, and stakeholder priorities.
- Trust: Building trust within crisis management teams and with key stakeholders.
- Speed: Responding quickly and decisively to crises without sacrificing accuracy.
Stakeholder Management in Higher Education Crises:
- Navigating the diverse and often conflicting interests of multiple stakeholder groups.
- Tailoring communication strategies to different stakeholder needs and preferences.
The Role of Leadership and Second-Level Thinking:
- The importance of leadership visibility and engagement during crises.
- Employing "second-level thinking" to anticipate the ripple effects of decisions and communications.
Integrating Risk Management and Crisis Communication:
- The collaboration between risk management and communication teams.
- Breaking down silos to ensure comprehensive crisis response strategies.
Opportunities in Crisis: Catalysts for Institutional Innovation:
- Recognizing crises as potential drivers of positive change and innovation.
- Examples of institutional transformation sparked by crisis situations.
Three Key Takeaways for Higher Education Presidents and Boards
- Invest in crisis management now, prioritizing preparation as a matter of urgency.
- Implement the PIP2 approach (Plan, Invest, Practice, Prioritize) to build crisis management muscle.
- Adopt the Clarity + Trust = Speed formula for effective crisis response.
Read the transcript on our website at: https://changinghighered.com/ building-higher-ed-crisis-management-and-communication-muscle/
#HigherEducation #HigherEdRiskManagement #CrisisManagement
About Our Podcast Guest
Stephanie Craig is the President of Kith.co, where she provides strategic guidance and solutions for high-stakes issues and challenges faced by C-suite executives, high-profile organizations, and elected officials. She has built her reputation as a crisis expert by guiding some of the world’s most prominent people and organizations through their most trying moments. Combining her deep experience in politics, media, and business, she mitigates crises, repairs reputations, and inoculates against future crises. Stephanie has counted former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the mayor of the nation’s 10th largest city, and some of the most notable global brands, as well as institutes of higher education, as clients. Stephanie is a prolific author on topics including crisis communications, reputational management, political communication, the intersection of law and communications, and entrepreneurship. If asked, she’ll even talk about being born in the Arctic.
About the Host
Dr. Drumm McNaughton is the founder, CEO, and Principal Consultant at The Change Leader, Inc. A highly sought-after higher education consultant with 20+ years of experience, Dr. McNaughton works with leadership, management, and boards of both U.S. and international institutions. His expertise spans key areas, including accreditation, governance, strategic planning, presidential onboarding, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances. Dr. McNaughton’s approach combines a holistic methodology with a deep understanding of the contemporary and evolving challenges facing higher education institutions worldwide to ensure his clients succeed in their mission.
269 episodes
All episodes
×
1 Washington Update: July 2025 Reconciliation Bill’s Impact on Higher Ed 38:48

1 Building a Connected College by Aligning Strategy and Services 37:26

1 Using AI to Fix Admissions and Enrollment Without Losing the Human Touch 38:22

1 How Utah State Is Using a Connected Campus to Boost Student Engagement and Persistence 36:45

1 Strategies to Help Adult Learners Re-Enroll and Graduate 37:53

1 High Structure Course Design for Student Engagement, Retention, and Success 40:38

1 Shared Services and Consolidation Strategies for Small Colleges 33:26

1 Adding Leadership Development to Academic Curriculum Design in Higher Ed 28:24

1 When DEI Is Off the Table: How Higher Ed Leaders Can Still Drive Institutional Change 45:14

1 Aligning Higher Ed with Workforce Needs and Nontraditional Learners 31:36

1 Confronting the Storm: Resistance to Change and Current Attacks on Higher Education 37:43

1 Strategic Affiliation in Higher Education: What Colleges Can Learn from The Colleges of Law and TCS Education System 32:12

1 Higher Education Strategic Planning That Drives Growth and Faculty Buy-In 34:20

1 Capital Funding Strategies in Higher Education: How Universities Are Solving Infrastructure and Student Housing Challenges 32:47

1 What’s Fueling the Collapse in Public Trust in Higher Education 32:54
Welcome to Player FM!
Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.