The past weeks have been filled with the sound of well regarded individuals falling from grace, and we're guessing this is still just the tip of the iceberg.

From Hollywood to D.C. and everywhere in between, allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power are swirling.

We have a rule at Bernstein Crisis Management - damage taken from negative events has a direct connection to existing expectations. The greater the expectation that an individual is a moral individual, the more drastic the fallout when the public discovers things that indicate otherwise. Case in point - the public's swift 180 on Matt Lauer.

With the public clamoring for action those facing accusations are being removed so fast heads are spinning, but why now? What's changed that means those accused of wrongdoing need to be removed immediately rather than fully investigated and even protected?

It's simple - if you stick by someone and the allegations turn out to be true, you're going to be viewed as an accomplice to the behavior. When the dust settles, there is always a 'poster child' for major controversies, and everyone is scrambling to not wind up holding a smoking gun. There's no time for things to be settled in a court of law, the court of public opinion has already spoken.

Now here's a question for you - does your own organization have a plan for accusations of wrongdoing being leveled against top employees of representatives? How long would it take to go from initial finding to fully prepared for a media interview?

If the answers to those two concern you, get in touch with us today.

Erik Bernstein
erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com
www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com