These management mistakes most often trigger communication crises

Well over half of PR professionals believe that concealed errors are the most common reason for a corporate crisis (61%). In turn, 37 percent of respondents attribute crises to breaches of compliance rules. Just as often, they attribute a communication crisis to serious mistakes made by management (37%). A lack of media competence on the part of managers is one of the most likely causes of crises for just over one in three respondents (34%). Personal misconduct in a business context, on the other hand, worries just under a third (32%).

On the other hand, it is less significant if the management behaves incorrectly in a private context (20 percent). Crises rarely occur in Swiss companies due to trench warfare at management level. Only one in seven respondents believe that PR crises are most likely to be triggered by dirty competition (15 percent). The respondents fear the least if the management is not so well positioned professionally. Only 14 percent of communication professionals fear negative effects due to a lack of professional expertise.

What management behavior is most likely to trigger PR crises?

• Covering up errors 61%
• Disregard of compliance requirements 37%
• Making hugely wrong decisions 37%
• Misconduct in interviews 34%
• Personal misconduct in a business context 32%
• False statements in public 29%
• Announcing or blabbing about topics not ready for discussion 22%
• Personal misconduct on social media 22%
• Personal misconduct in a private context 20%
• Dirty competition in management 15%
• Lack of professional competence 14%