Here’s a clip from about damage control crisis management from My Ragan TV. Now normally, this would be way too long (5 minutes, 34 seconds) for the basic advice it offers. However, the video is stylized and not without real world examples, and that makes it entertaining to watch.
As for the advice itself, the video suggest that when you get caught with your pants down, you should:
- Own up to your mistake
- Apologize
- Promise to never do it again
- Give back to the community somehow
You’ll notice that these tips sound a lot like # 22 of the 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene:
Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power
When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane. Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first. By turning the other check you infuriate and unsettle him. Make surrender a tool of power.
Basically, whether you’re (technically) in the right or not, sometimes the mere accusation of something is enough to convict you in the court of public opinion. When this happens, it’s better to take the Taoist approach and go with with flow of things. Even if you’re being misunderstood or telling the truth, denying certain kinds of accusations will only make you look defensive.
By taking responsibility for you (alleged) actions, however, you accomplishing two things. First, you demonstrate that you’re responsible and, therefore, more trustworthy than not. Secondly, you appear magnanimous in the eyes of the public because you’re facing the music. Finally, because you’re preparing to recover, you’re sending out the latent message that it wasn’t that much of a bid deal anyway.
