The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has recently published a new skills guide designed to help organisations protect their people, maintain trust, and support recovery through more effective internal crisis communication.
Internal Crisis Communication – exclusive to CIPR members – was developed by crisis communication specialist Alison Arnot Chart.PR FCIPR, and provides practical guidance for communicating with employees, contractors, and other internal stakeholders before, during and after a crisis. The guide emphasises the essential role of informed, engaged and supported employees in preventing harm and enabling organisational recovery post-crisis.
It also explores the seven stages of Internal Crisis Communication, a staged model that helps communicators meet evolving human and organisational needs from the first moments of crisis through to long-term recovery. It offers clear advice on message development, choosing the right channels, involving multiple organisational voices, and monitoring and adapting communications as crises unfold.
When an organisation faces a crisis, it is the people inside it who feel the impact first and who play the biggest role in its recovery. This guide recognises that reality and puts internal audiences at the heart of crisis communication. By giving communicators a clear, evidence-based framework, it helps them support their colleagues through uncertainty, maintain trust, and strengthen organisational resilience. I’m delighted that we are adding this important resource to our growing library of Skills Guides.
CIPR President Advita Patel Chart.PR, FCIPR
