Transparency and Honesty in Crisis Communication

Honesty and transparency are important elements to successful crisis commination because when used properly an organization or company can control the delivery of its message. It also shows that the company is accountable in a responsive manner. The media will do anything it can to get news about a potential crisis. By communicating that you have done something wrong, the company exhibits a sign of strength and leadership that will aid in a faster recovery (Masciarelli 2014). Mistakes happen and being honest about them can gain more respect for the company if you are honest about them. When a company is transparent and honest about what is going on they protect relationships and the organizations climate (Zaremba 2010, pg. 92).

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 is a great example of ramifications that a company may undergo if they are not honest and transparent. The oil spill ruined beaches, and thousands of people lost their livelihood as a result of the spill. BP’s CEO Tony Hayward tried to down play the incident by saying the mount of the oil spill was “very tiny” compared to the “very big ocean”. This happened in April, 4 months later he resigned and stated “he wanted his life back”, acknowledging that the spill was having major impact on residents and him. Hayward dis admit to making bumpy mistakes early on in their management. In my opinion, they should have had a better plan, they had recently undergone a crisis in Alaska in 2006 (Webb, 2010 pg. 1). The mistake Hayward made was he did not take responsibility, or offer to find out what happened with his initial statement. He was not honest. In my opinion it would have been okay for him to say he was unaware of what was going on at the time but would find out what happened and make it right. This would have been and honest statement. He could have saved face for the company. This crisis is an example of how a company does not want to communicate.

Ethical organizations engage in decision making...