5 steps to prep coronavirus messaging for key audiences

Editor’s note: We are re-running the top stories of 2020 as part of our year-end countdown.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has made it clear that it is a question of when, and not if, local outbreaks of the COVID-19 coronavirus will occur in the U.S.

At the same time, the U.S. State Department has warned that travel restrictions could be put in place with little or no advance notice.

Like any crisis businesses face, poor communication and operational complacency could exacerbate the threat posed by COVID-19. Your management team will not be blamed if the coronavirus strikes, of course, but how well your company prepares and responds will be judged by employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders.

Effectively communicating preparedness and making smart operational adjustments are crucial for organizations to successfully navigate this (or any) crisis. A widespread outbreak in the U.S. would particularly disrupt travel, retail, entertainment and health-related businesses. Other businesses could suffer from mission-critical supply chain problems. All companies run the risk of staff absenteeism or customer slowdowns.