How your organization should handle a leader’s death
The sudden loss of a prominent figure leaves questions about your company’s future, so an appropriate response is crucial. These tactics can help the transition go smoothly.
Hypothetically, brands should exist as standalone entities.
Behind the scenes, various people are pulling the strings, but your organization should be able to perform more or less the same, even if some or all of those people are replaced. In practice, however, this rarely occurs without a hitch.
Many companies rely on the “face of the company” to help develop the brand’s reputation. This person may be highly experienced in leadership roles, giving investors faith that he or she will lead the organization in the right direction. The leader might be highly charismatic, charming potential clients and warming people to the brand or could have other traits that make them—and, by extension, the organization—more likeable.
So, what happens if the face of your organization, or some other pivotal leader, unexpectedly dies? How can your company survive and mitigate the potential ramifications?
Strategies for recovery
These tactics can help you salvage a positive PR experience from a key figure’s unexpected death:
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.