When a crisis hits, say this or stay silent

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, University of Memphis expert Michele Ehrhart joins host Jason Mudd to discuss crisis communication, leadership preparedness, reputation management, and how organizations can navigate high-pressure situations with clarity and confidence.Tune in to learn more!Meet our guest:Our guest is Michele Ehrhart, senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer at the University of Memphis. Michele is a crisis communications expert with three decades of experience in corporate affairs, executive communications, and PR strategy. Five things you’ll learn from this episode:1. Why crisis preparation must happen before a crisis occurs2. How leaders can use “what if” scenario planning to prepare for high-risk situations3. Why silence can be a strategic communication choice depending on context4. How reputation is built slowly but can be damaged quickly during a crisis5. Why defining roles and responsibilities in advance improves crisis response executionQuotables“The day you have a crisis should not be the first day you've thought about what you'll do.” — Michele Ehrhart“Planning the work and working the plan.” — Michele Ehrhart“Silence is a strategy. If the story isn't yours, don't talk about it.” — Michele Ehrhart“The brand is what you put out there; reputation is what they think of you.” — Michele Ehrhart“When PR is at its best, it's building a reputation for your company — just not visibility, but also the reputation. You could have great visibility, but it's not positive.” – Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.More About Michele EhrhartMichele Ehrhart is a crisis communications expert with three decades of experience in corporate affairs, executive communications, and PR strategy. After 22 years with FedEx, she now serves as the University of Memphis's senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer. She is a bestselling author, speaker, and industry expert helping leaders navigate crises with confidence and clarity.Guest’s contact info and resources:Michele Ehrhart on LinkedInMichele Ehrhart’s websiteGet the “Crisis Compass: How to Communicate When It Matters Most” bookAxia’s CrisisPoint serviceAxia’s Reputation Restoration serviceAdditional Resources:How to recover from a PR crisis and manage your reputationWhat is reputation management?Build a crisis communication plan that works fastQuestion-based crisis communication: What leaders miss onlineHow to build a crisis-resilient marketing and communication planSupport the showOn Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.