How to Secure Employee Trust in Crisis Situations with Alison Arnot

In this episode of PR in the Real World, host Tony Garner is joined by internal communications expert Alison Arnot to explore one of the most overlooked but vital areas of crisis planning: internal comms. Alison is the Director of Catalyst Communications, a consultancy specialising in PR, training and internal crisis communication. She brings a wealth of frontline experience, including her role during the 2007 Glasgow Airport terror attack, to this powerful and practical conversation.Alison shares insights from her new book, Internal Communication in Times of Crisis: How to secure employee trust, support and advocacy in crisis situations, which introduces her seven-stage '7S' model. The book offers a blueprint for how organisations can effectively support and engage their internal audiences before, during and after a crisis.Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of why internal communication is often treated as the 'Cinderella' of crisis planning and why that needs to change. Alison explains how her 7S model (Surviving, Supporting, Sense-making, Stabilising, Stimulating, Sustaining, and Strengthening) provides a clear, actionable framework for responding to internal needs throughout a crisis lifecycle.She highlights the serious risks of neglecting your internal audience, including the potential for increased harm, prolonged disruption or even triggering new crises. Alison also explores how building trust, maintaining visible leadership and fostering a strong internal culture can dramatically improve an organisation’s ability to recover and thrive after a crisis.Crucially, the episode illustrates how internal communication can serve as an early warning system. By creating a psychologically safe environment where people feel able to raise concerns, organisations can spot and address smouldering issues before they escalate.Whether you're an in-house comms lead, a PR agency stepping into a client’s crisis, or a business leader wanting to build resilience from within, this episode is packed with expert insight and practical advice to elevate your internal comms strategy.Resources & MentionsBuy Internal Communication in Times of Crisis:Kogan PageAmazon UKWaterstonesLearn more about Alison Arnot:Catalyst CommunicationsAlison on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.