What Were They Thinking? Crisis Communication – The Good, the Bad and the Totally Clueless.
By Steve Aduabto. (Part I) Introduction
I was interested in this book for a number of reasons: first, I am a fan of Steve Aduabto, I have seen him speak on numerous occasions and he has done a fantastic job as a communicator and as writer; second, I really like the title “What Were They Thinking”, and third (which is why I am writing about it on this blog) is that as a couples and marriage counselor I specialize in crisis communications. When I see a couple they are in crisis and one of their main issues is communicating effectively with each other.
Dr. Aduabto writes, as good communicator should, in a concise and easy to understand manner. The main focus of the book is how one can get information out and do damage control in a pressurized situation. Thinking about this issue I see myself talking to a couple when there has been infidelity and the tension so thick I can actually feel it.
Dr. A. deals with many situations that organizations and individuals have faced that have had a high profile where something went terribly wrong; to name a few situations he talks about: The Johnson and Johnson Tylenol scare; and the Exxon Valdez Oil spill. In terms of individuals he sites problems that public figures such as Bill O’Reilly and former Governor Jon Corzine have had.
In my next blog, I will mention the examples that Dr. Aduabto gives and the parallel communication problems in couples’ counseling.