3. GROUND RULES
Disengage from office. Be present
Disengage from technology. Off switch
KirkHilbrecht.com WRITE IT DOWN
Ask questions. Be engaged.
Rabbit holes. It‟s okay. Be prepared
4. HILBRECHT
Active Duty Army 9 years
Doe Anderson
Videobred
Active Duty, Kentucky National Guard
Entrepreneur, Military, Mayor
5. DIR. PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Voice of the Kentucky National Guard
Advisor to TAG and Governor
“We will make you famous”
Most published PA shop in free world (4 pax)
KentuckyGuard.com
6. DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY
AFFAIRS
Direct report to the Governor
Responsible for KYNG, KYEM, LOC, NGYC
Responsible TO the taxpayers
Dual missions (Federal and State)
A relevant story
12. MY TITANIC STORY
(hence black and white)
Unsinkable ship, or so we thought
Captain‟s captain
Icebergs
Maiden voyage(s)
13. MY TITANIC CAST
RMS Titanic played by:
Department of Emergency Management
Titanic‟s Captain played by:
BG (R) John Heltzel
Titanic‟s Passengers played by:
Emergency Management Personnel
Titanic‟s Lifeboats played by:
Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht
14. MY TITANIC CAST
The role of „Iceberg‟ played by:
Department of Emergency Management’s History
The role of „Titanic‟s gaping hole‟ played by:
Kentucky’s State Auditor Branch
The role of „water‟ played by:
Media
22. MY TITANIC STORY TIMELINE
What we knew
• The ship sustained a HUGE hit
• Most passengers could survive
• The „company‟ would also take a hit
• The iceberg was big
• The water was COLD
23. MY TITANIC STORY TIMELINE
What we had to do
• Address the situation minus emotion
• if you lose your head, you lose
• Prepare the flares
• Ask for help from other ships IMMEDIATELY
• TELL EVERYONE the ship is taking on water
• Check the doors before you open them
24. FLOOD DOOR
PIO phone call Monday
• Wasn‟t prepped
• Elvis question
• Potentially widened the hole
Fixed
26. MY TITANIC STORY TIMELINE
Auditor‟s release
• Water rushed in
Fired off the flares
• Statements one and two
Stuck with the communication plan
• You have one, right?
27. MY TITANIC STORY TIMELINE
Wednesday
• Water stopped rushing in
No media calls
Kept PIOs tight
28. MY TITANIC STORY TIMELINE
Thursday
• Announced the Captain was „lost at sea‟
The ship did NOT sink
Began repairs
29. MY TITANIC STORY TIMELINE
Epilogue
• Internal „stuffs‟
• Sparks
Preparing for next voyage
31. HILBRECHT‟S MAXOMS
Transparency
• Be upfront, be certain, be open
• „I don‟t know‟ IS a response
• „No comment‟ is a POSTURE
• Be available and responsive
Relationships
• Keep them, ask for help, be real
32. CRISIS TOOLS
Your brain
• Think first, speak second. Let me get back to you…and
DO get back to them.
Your mouth
• YOU are the voice of your company or your client‟s
company. See Above
Transparency = confidence= believability=quick-er
Notes de l'éditeur
Your organization. Your client’s organization. It’s unstoppable. It’s colossal. It’s Unsnkable. Dude! You hear that, RUN!
Your client. Your shareholders. FULL STEAM AHEAD.
Above the surface is what the public sees. Most don’t see (or know) what is beneath the surface EVEN if the water seems clear and transparent. Icebergs don’t move, don’t navigate (like sharks do). Icebergs are there and they are waiting for something to HIT them.
Public Affairs, Public Information, Public Relations experts are the lifeboat of an organization. You can’t save everyone. You hate to admit, you have to make a judgment call of who’s worthy or the best possible outcome. Women and children first isn’t a throw to chivalry. It’s survival of a group, community, organization or subset of a species. We have to minimize the loss to the whole.
TransparencyBe upfront, be certain, be open—you will be considered real!‘I don’t know’ IS a response‘No comment’ is a POSTURE. Don’t be that guy/galBe available and responsive. Silence defilade is bad bad bad.“We were unable to reach officials from (your company) for comment” Looks like you’re dodging.RelationshipsKeep them, ask for help, be real
Your brainThink first, speak second. Let me get back to you…and DO get back to them.I’m right in the middle of something something…can I get back with you in five minutes?Your mouthYOU are the voice of your company or your client’s company. See Above I don’t know about that, but what I DO know is…I can’t comment on their policy, but what I CAN say is…Transparency = confidence= believability=quick-er death of the story.Our media flight was over by Thursday.