{"id":15639,"date":"2020-03-19T12:46:13","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T16:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opsweb.wpengine.com\/?p=15639"},"modified":"2020-10-21T15:55:27","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T19:55:27","slug":"communicating-in-a-public-health-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourpublicservice.org\/blog\/communicating-in-a-public-health-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Communicating in a public health crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The coronavirus pandemic has led most of us to reexamine how\nwe communicate with our family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly for\nleaders, the public. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To quell public health fears and ensure government continues\nto operate effectively, federal leaders must communicate to both internal and\nexternal audiences in a timely, consistent manner. Here are some tips to help you\nget started:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deliver a clear external message<\/strong>. Convey messages\nwith maximum transparency and minimum delay. Gather insights from all\nappropriate stakeholders and develop a clear, concise and holistic message that\ncaptures your agency\u2019s response to the current situation. Not only will this\ncalm the general public, but it can also address pressing questions from your\nworkforce and ensure that critical operations continue as planned.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communicate consistently<\/strong>. Don\u2019t expect anyone to read\nyour mind. To build trust and accountability as a leader, communicate consistently\nwith your employees\u2014more than you typically do. People may get incorrect information\nfrom neighbors, families or other sources that don\u2019t have correct information\nor aren\u2019t keeping up with important changes in the ever-evolving situation. Mitigate\npotential confusion by making sure you\u2019re updating both internal and external audiences\nin a timely, consistent way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reassure your staff<\/strong>. Federal workers are faced with\ntremendous uncertainties right now, and many are on the front lines responding\nto the crisis. Send your employees daily updates that are both informative and\ncomforting. Remind them of the actions agency leadership is taking to confront\nthe crisis and offer a platform to solicit ideas and feedback about your agency\u2019s\nresponse.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be patient<\/strong>. Check in with your colleagues and understand that not everything is going to go as planned for the near future. Getting used to teleworking can be challenging, and employees may have to work out initial kinks. But with time, you and your workforce can find ways to collaborate and continue operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this uncertain time, your employees and the general public are looking to you for guidance and comfort. Prioritize and strengthen your communication efforts. You will set an example for your entire workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have any crisis communications tips for federal leaders? Reach out to us on Twitter:\u00a0 @RPublicService<\/a> and follow our Twitter Moment<\/a> for coronavirus updates!\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out our other blog posts on communicating during the COVID-19 pandemic below: <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n