7 hours Ago By Guardian Nigeria
To revolutionise crisis management in Nigeria’s business landscape, CMC Connect LLP has unveiled Crisis X, a framework designed to help businesses proactively prepare for, manage and recover from the crisis. The company’s Lead Partner, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, who spoke during the media launch of Crisis X, emphasised the growing need for crisis preparedness in an unpredictable business environment. He described Crisis X as a game-changer for organisations navigating today’s volatile business landscape.
“Preparedness is not optional when it comes to a crisis, it is essential. It reinforces the commitment to helping businesses, institutions and leaders become more proactive and resilient, therefore making businesses more crisis-proof.” He highlighted that the new framework is built on over 30 years of expertise in crisis management, providing businesses with a structured approach to safeguarding their reputation and operations.
According to him, crises often start as minor issues but can escalate into major disruptions if not handled properly, stressing that preparedness is not optional but essential for businesses, industries and leaders who are looking to build resilience. Crisis X, he explained, is anchored on four key stages. He identified vulnerabilities through crisis risk audits, developing crisis management plans, executing real-time response strategies, and ultimately rebuilding brand reputation post-crisis.
He warned that failing to handle issues effectively can have dire financial, operational and reputational consequences, noting that research has shown that 70 per cent of customers switch brands when a company mishandles a crisis. As part of its commitment to promoting crisis preparedness, CMC Connect LLP also announced the launch of Crisis Management Advocacy Month (CMAN), an annual initiative that will take place in March. CMAN’s goal, he explained, is to create awareness about crisis planning and management, ensuring that businesses, government agencies and industries are better equipped to handle emergencies.
“Every March, we will drive and sustain a culture of crisis preparedness. We want businesses and organisations to explore the latest trends in crisis preparedness and response because failing to prepare is preparing to fail,” he said. He further warned that poor crisis management can lead to significant business losses, from operational disruptions and financial instability to reputational damage and loss of customer trust.
Highlighting different forms of crisis businesses may face, including operational, financial, reputational, legal and/or environmental; he stressed the role of public relations in crisis management, stating that effective PR strategies before, during, and after, can determine whether a company recovers or collapses under pressure..
