When It Hits The Fan: 5 Steps to Survive a Crisis - Mike Swenson

What happens when a company that has been in business for decades is shut down in just six months because of one mistake?Mike Swenson, founder of Barkley Public Relations and creator of CrisisTrak, shares the chilling story of the peanut butter crisis that impacted over 300 global brands. He explains that even if a crisis isn't your fault, it is still your problem to solve. If you don't have a plan before the storm hits, you are already behind the curve.This episode dives into the FailCraft theme of leadership under fire. Mike breaks down his 5-step "CrisisTrak" system for preparing for the unexpected. Discover the difference between good communication and great communication when the world is watching, why "Single Voice, Simple Message" is critical, and why the most dangerous thing a leader can do in a crisis is flinch.In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover:* The Peanut Butter Crisis: How one vendor destroyed a legacy in 6 months.* Why you must lead from strength, not reaction, when disaster strikes.* The 5 Steps of CrisisTrak: Team, Risks, First Steps, Messages, Spokesperson.* The "Eye-Opening" exercise of listing everything that *could* go wrong.* Why "Real Crisis Management" is actually prevention.* The Golden Rule of Crisis Communication: Transparency vs. Speculation.* The "Single Voice, Simple Message" strategy.* Why leaders must never be seen hesitating by their team.* Mike's definition of true success: Always asking "What's next?".This episode is for business owners, PR professionals, and leaders who want to ensure their organization is bulletproof *before* the unexpected happens.Connect With Mike Swenson:* CrisisTrak Training: https://crisistrak.com/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeswenson1/Support the Show: * Fuel the FailCraft Mission: https://iferia.nestuge.com/supportme * Subscribe and leave a review! * Share this episode if it resonated!Want to Be a Guest on FailCraft? * Reach out to Ezekiel on PodMatch * PodMatch Host Profile: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/failcraftChapters:00:00 Hook: The Business That Died in 6 Months01:06 Introduction: Mike Swenson & Crisis Management01:30 The Peanut Butter Crisis: Guilt by Association05:06 Leading Through Failure: Don't Be Behind the Curve07:33 The 5-Step CrisisTrak Framework Explained13:32 "Real" Crisis Management is Prevention15:13 Good vs. Great Communication: Transparency & Facts17:13 The Mantra: "Single Voice, Simple Message"19:00 Advice for Leaders: Don't Let Them See You Flinch21:48 Mike's Definition of True Success24:33 How to Access CrisisTrak