We speak frequently about data hacks, cyber attacks and breaches. Most of the content is about how to protect your organizations data and how to retrieve/restore after the fact. What we speak about much less frequently is the communication side of a data breach situation. Outsell brought this topic to our attention in their article, “Facebook Reckoning.”
The recent situation with Facebook, Cambridge Analytica and the Trump presidential campaign has presented a perfect scenario with which to learn.
Leadership is best demonstrated during a time of crisis. Let’s face it, it is easy to lead when profits are up, productivity is rolling and everyone loves you. But when chaos ensues, what does a great leader do?
Most communication and public relations professionals would agree that you have to own the situation and control the narrative. Maybe it is because Facebook’s model of business has from the beginning been hands off, but they are not operating on best practices.
Facebook leadership wants us to believe the company is all about the user experience, but the reality is Facebook is entirely about the advertiser and the cash machine it represents. Time and again their action speaks louder than words, and in this situation the message is loud and clear. Crickets.
Melody K. Smith
Sponsored by Data Harmony, a unit of Access Innovations, the world leader in indexing and making content findable.
