Thinking Like An Assassin: Mastering the skills to prevent crisis

Recently, I read a book by Richard Luecke on Crisis Management. The book covers potential crises that companies can go through, avoiding the avoidable, preparing contingency plans, recognising crises, preventing a bad situation from getting worse, crisis resolution, mastering media, and learning from an experience post-crisis. One particularly intriguing concept discussed in the book is the idea of adopting the mindset of an assassin to enhance crisis management strategies.

Crisis management is not just about dealing with disasters after they occur but also about preventing them and being prepared for any unforeseen mishaps. To do this effectively, the book suggests that public relations professionals, in collaboration with executives, should imagine themselves as "internal assassins" or "internal terrorists." This might sound provocative, but the underlying idea is to encourage a unique perspective and an approach that can help identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses within the company. By suspending rationality and moral codes temporarily, these professionals can gain insight into potential threats and vulnerabilities that might not be immediately apparent.

Let's dive deeper into this fascinating concept and how it can be applied to improve crisis management:

Suspending Rationality:

By adopting the mindset of an assassin, PR professionals and executives are encouraged to think outside the box. They can explore hypothetical scenarios where the organization's products, procedures, or systems could be compromised, either from the inside or the outside. This exercise allows them to identify potential weak points that may not have been considered in a more conventional risk assessment.

Leveraging Intimate Knowledge:

One of the key advantages of this approach is the intimate knowledge that internal stakeholders possess about the company. They are well-versed in the intricacies of the organization, its operations, and its vulnerabilities. By exploiting this knowledge, they can develop strategies to "attack" the company, thereby revealing potential risks that need to be addressed.

Crisis Management Planning:

Once these hypothetical scenarios are created, the next step is to develop comprehensive crisis management plans. This involves preparing for various crisis scenarios, outlining steps to mitigate the impact of these crises, and establishing communication protocols to keep all stakeholders informed. By thinking like an assassin, organizations can better anticipate potential crises and be well-prepared to tackle them head-on.

In conclusion, the concept of thinking like an assassin in crisis management may be unconventional, but it offers a unique perspective and a powerful tool for identifying and preventing potential disasters. While it is essential to maintain ethical standards and respect the moral code of an organization, temporarily adopting this mindset can help uncover hidden vulnerabilities and enhance preparedness. In a world where crisis doesn't knock before arriving, mastering these skills is vital to prevent disasters and ensure the long-term success of any organization.